As the winter season quickly approaches, it is important for dog owners to make sure their beloved pets are well cared for during the winter.  Especially if you live in cooler climates, you need to protect your dog from colder winter weather.  From grooming and shelter to general health concerns, the winter season requires dog owners to be more vigilant about pet care.

First and foremost, you must provide your dog with adequate shelter during the winter.  Leaving your dog outdoors for extended periods of time is not only uncomfortable but can also pose a serious risk to your dog’s general health.  In addition, wind chill and other weather factors like rain and snow make the outside temperatures even colder.  Your dog needs somewhere warm and dry to sleep; even indoors tile or non-carpeted flooring will be unnecessarily cold for your dog.  Plus, older dogs who may be suffering from osteoarthritis will experience more extreme symptoms in the winter so keep them warm and cozy.

When it comes to grooming, letting your dog’s hair run wild during the winter is hardly a good idea.  You might think that you need to worry less about grooming because a thick coat will protect your dog in winter.  On the contrary, regular grooming is necessary to ensure that your dog is effectively insulated from the cold.  Long-haired dogs should be brushed and hair around their feet should be trimmed to prevent snow build up.  Remember that short haired dogs are not well insulated so they should be kept warm with a sweater or coat.

Finally, dog owners should realize that some of our winter routines pose an added risk to a dog’s health.  For example, antifreeze tastes and smells appetizing to dogs but it can be fatal if ingested.  Always store antifreeze well out of your dog’s reach and ensure that spills are cleaned thoroughly.  Also, treating walkways and driveways with rock salt prevents ice build up but rock salt can also be an irritant to your pet’s feet so be sure to clean and dry your dog’s feet after walks.

There is little doubt that people in today’s society spend a good portion of their time thinking about how to stay fit.  We think about what and when we eat and we try to develop an exercise plan that fits our busy schedules.  Unfortunately, too few dog owners consider their dog’s fitness needs and as a result health and weight problems in dogs are on the rise.  While you may believe that your dog can manage his own fitness, this is simply not true.  However, with the help of their caretakers, dogs can be very fit and lead a long and happy life.

Before starting any new exercise plan with your dog, speak to your veterinarian first.  Depending on the age, weight, and general health of your dog, your veterinarian will probably suggest different types of exercise.  Indeed, even different breeds require different kinds of exercise and you also want to ensure that your dog’s heart and joints are healthy enough for exercise.  But beyond exercise, diet is also an important aspect of your dog’s fitness.  Many commercially available dog foods do not necessarily offer the nutrition we expect.  As such, it is important as a dog owner to carefully review and understand food labels and to provide your dog with a balanced diet that is rich in protein and low in fillers and fat.

Of course, when it comes to exercise, there are many easy options available for dog owners.  Walking is the easiest and most common form of dog exercise that is also a great benefit to owners.  Start with short walks and gradually build to longer walks if your dog is not familiar with the extra exercise.  Many dogs also love swimming which is one of the healthiest forms of exercise.  Swimming is low impact so even dogs with joint problems can do it.  In addition, swimming provides a full body workout to stretch muscles and work the heart.  However you decide to exercise your dog, be sure to stay within his limits and speak to your veterinarian if you are concerned about his ability to partake in new exercise.

From time to time you may find yourself asking what to do when your dog has a cold.  He has developed a runny nose, cough, and sneezing and you think it must be a cold.  However, dogs are not like humans and their cold-like symptoms are more likely a sign of respiratory illness caused by a canine-specific virus or bacterium.

Some of the most common reasons your dog may be suffering cold like symptoms include para-influenza, adenovirus type-2, kennel cough, and canine distemper.

• Para-influenza is very common and highly contagious among dogs.  Para-influenza is a virus that causes dogs to have a chronic cough but most dogs today are vaccinated against this pervasive virus.
• Adenovirus Type-2 is one of the leading contributors to kennel cough which is most often confused for a doggy cold.  While there are vaccines for this virus, it is not yet possible to completely prevent infection.  Still, adenovirus type-2 vaccinations can drastically reduce the severity of illness that dogs suffer when they are infected.
• Kennel Cough can also be caused by canine-specific bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica.  This condition presents as a rasping, chronic cough accompanied by phlegm as well as discharge from the nose and eyes.  While kennel cough is known to resolve itself, unless your dog is also immuno-suppressed.  In severe cases, kennel cough may develop into pneumonia which can be life threatening.
• Canine Distemper is a serious and very contagious disease caused by a virus that is spread through the air.  Dogs should be vaccinated for canine distemper because it is a serious illness that often ends in fatality.

If you suspect your dog is suffering from any of these conditions or you notice cold-like symptoms, you should visit your veterinarian immediately.  In the majority of cases, treatment is effective and sometimes even life saving.

As your dog ages, his needs tend to change.  Young puppies need a lot of exercise and even different nutrition than older dogs.  Moreover, as your dog’s age advances, he will likely suffer from one or many conditions, like arthritis or cataracts, which require special care.  Still, even if your elderly dog is starting to slow down, you can help him live his final years happily and healthily through regular veterinary visits, pet medications, proper nutrition, and daily pet health care.

First, you need to take some time to understand the changes your dog may be facing.  Caring for an elderly dog offers special challenges as your dog may be suffering hearing or vision loss, incontinence, changes in appetite and thirst, weight gain, decreased energy, and even stiffness in joints.  All these changes obviously have an impact on your dog’s quality of life and to keep them in check you’ll need to have regular visits with your veterinarian.  Regular pet health check-ups are especially important when you are caring for an elderly dog because you also have to be vigilant about possible life threatening conditions.

Still, aside from regular vet visits, you need to make some changes at home as well.  Nutrition is particularly important and you should look for a dog food that has been specifically formulated for senior dogs.  Likewise, your dog will still need plenty of exercise but your expectations should change.  Speak to your veterinarian about the best exercise program for your dog, especially if your dog suffers from arthritis.  Dogs with arthritis certainly benefit from regular exercise but high impact programs are not recommended.  Moreover, exercise that involves climbing may not be ideal for your dog.  There are dog pain relief medications for arthritic dogs, make sure you speak to your veterinarian about dog pain medications that will help with your dogs arthritic pain.

Finally, try to understand that like elderly humans, elderly dogs experience some psychological changes as a result of their aging.  Be sensitive and patient and always attempt to provide your dog with loving support.

A costly trip to the veterinarian and the application of the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response test will help you to determine if your dog is going deaf or just ignoring you.  Likewise, you can conduct a few simple tests from home to self-diagnose deafness in your dog.  For example, you can clap your hands loudly or call his name when he is sleeping, or have another family member bang some pots in another room and watch for your dog’s response.  In either situation, if your dog is unresponsive, this is a good indication that he may be deaf or beginning to go deaf.

If you suspect your dog is deaf, you really should visit the veterinarian.  Your veterinarian can inspect your dog’s ears to look for blockages or malformations that can sometimes be treated to restore your dog’s hearing.  Still, as is the case with elderly humans, older dogs may become deaf naturally.  If your dog’s hearing cannot be restored, you must learn how to live with a deaf dog.

You must take extra precautions to protect a deaf dog.  First of all, never take your deaf dog off leash in an open area because you won’t be able to call him back.  Furthermore, deaf dogs are at greater risk of accidents or attack as they will not be able to hear potential dangers.  Deaf dogs also tend to be more anxious so you must always approach your dog calmly and carefully so as not to startle him.  Finally, when in the company of other dogs, always make sure there is somebody keeping a watch over your dog.  Dogs regularly use vocalizations like barking or growling to communicate aggression, danger, or other information.  Obviously, deaf dogs will not be able to hear these communications and this can put them at risk.