Living in San Francisco as I do, the fact that this yesterday was the first day of fall just means we finally get our few days of hot weather, with real autumn several weeks off... and no actual summer or winter, either. Which, having gone to Northwestern University in the freezing cold winters and humid summers of Chicago's northern suburbs, is fine with me.
Those of you who live in places where there are seasons, however, might want to check out the tips in this week's Pet Connection for winterizing your pets:
We don't agree with the practice of keeping dogs and cats outdoors all their lives -- these pets are often lonely and bored, and are more likely to be suffering from physical neglect.
That said, we realize some people won't bring animals in the house, no matter what. If you're one of those people, you must provide adequate outdoor shelter. And the time to review your pet's shelter is now.
Animals must be able to get out of the elements. A pet must have a well-insulated structure just large enough so that he can curl up inside to maintain body heat. The structure should also have a wind-block to protect it from wintry blasts. In the coldest parts of the country, it should also have some sort of outdoor-rated pet-heating pad or other device. And be sure that there's always a supply of fresh, unfrozen water by using a heated bowl.
Animals who spend any significant amount of time outside will need more calories during cold weather. Food is fuel, and they'll need to burn it to stay warm.
Final outdoor caution: Remember to thump on your car's hood on cold mornings. You neighbor's cat may be nestled against the engine for warmth, and thumping your car's hood will get the animal to skedaddle to safety.
You'll also find information on dealing with season shedding, using portion control to help your pets lose weight, ideas for training your dog to interact appropriately with strange dogs, animal trivia from Dr. Marty and Mikkel, and helpful hints on something I devoutly hope never to have to do again, moving with cats:
Trying to force a scared and stressed-out cat to do anything he doesn't want to is hazardous to your health. After you arrive at your new home, don't pull your cat out of his carrier. Instead, put the carrier in his safe room, open the carrier door, and let him come out into the room when he wants to. After he's a little calmer, you can coax him out with some fresh food or treats if you want. But don't rush him and don't drag him out -- or you may be bitten or scratched.
It's all in this week's Pet Connection syndicated feature!
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