You should still make sure to exercise your dog during the winter, but you will need to be cautious when doing so. The harsh, cold weather can be dangerous for both you and your dog if you do not practice walking safety. Freshly fallen snow can hide a lot of hazards on the ground that you would otherwise be able to see. It's important to remember that your pet's paws aren't protected like your feet are. While you have shoes on to protect your feet from sharp objects, slippery surfaces, and other dangers that could be hiding under the snow, your pet is extremely exposed.

One of the biggest dangers for dogs during the snowy season is chemicals on the ground. In snowy states, many city maintenance crews will apply chemicals to the sidewalks and driveways so that ice can melt. This can also make it so that people's feet will drip the ground easier. While the chemicals can be helpful for humans, they can harm a dog's unprotected feet. They can also get into small abrasions in your dog's foot pads, causing infection. These chemicals are not consumable, and dogs may get curious and try to lick them up while on a walk. This can lead to intestinal issues. Not everyone chooses to use pet-friendly chemicals during the snowy season, so it is important to be aware of this danger went out on the road.

If you are concerned about the chemicals on the ground, you can try to outfit your dog with booties to protect his or her paws. Some dogs adapt to this paw-wear, whereas others will refuse to wear them. Booties can also protect your pet from getting hard snow and ice in the spaces between his or her toes. This can be extremely painful for your animal. If your pet will not tolerate booties, then you will want to make sure to clean out the animal's feet and underside as soon as you arrive home form your walk. A rag that is dipped in water will be capable of removing any chemicals from your pet's feet before they do any harm.

Another danger for pets is antifreeze. Many people change the antifreeze or coolant in their car engine during the colder months. This may result in unintentional spills. Some people fail to clean up these spills. Dogs and cats alike both are often attracted to the taste and smell of antifreeze. Unfortunately, the liquid is extremely poisonous for pets. The main ingredient in anti-freeze solutions is ethylene glycol.

This is an extremely toxic chemical that leads to a lot of accidental illnesses and deaths in pets every single year. If no one is around to witness the pet ingesting antifreeze and the symptoms that are not treated immediately, the animal may suffer kidney damage and damage to the nervous system. If your pet consumes antifreeze, you will want to get him or her to the veterinarian immediately.

A last danger to be cautious about during a winter walk is frostbite. Your pet could possible suffer from frostbite without even knowing it. Oftentimes dogs will get frostbite on their footpads, ear tips, tail, or nose. Pale, hard skin that remains cold after being inside is normally the first sign of frostbite. The skin may proceed to swell a bright red color, and your animal may try to relieve the irritation by chewing or licking the skin. You will need to have the skin treated and covered immediately before permanent damage is done. Use this directory to locate a veterinarian near you today!