Winter Care for Canines:

• Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.
• Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.
• Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.
• Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.
• Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.


Keep your dog Hydrated: 

• An average 50lb. housedog needs about five cups of water a day, but with active dogs that jumps up to 12 cups.
• A housedog loses about 23 percent moisture from respiration and 70 percent from urine, while a hunting dog can lose up to 40 percent form respiration, five percent from feces and 55 percent from urine.
• A dog's breath is six percent moisture, so hydration is just as important in winter as it is in summer.
• Note:Dogs don't sweat and therefore don't lose electrolytes like humans. Giving your dog gatorade can actually do more harm than good.  

Kitchen Pantry: No Dogs Allowed!

• Alcohol
• Anything with Caffeine
• Candy
• Chocolate
• Dough
• Fat Trimmings and Bones
• Garlic
• Gum
• Grapes
• Dairy Products
• Macadamia Nuts
• Onions
• Peaches
• Persimmons
• Plums
• Raisins
• Raw Eggs
• Raw Fish and Meat
• Salt
• Sugary Foods and Drinks
• Yeast

Dogs VaccinationSchedule:   

Puppies (6 weeks to 1 year)

6 – 8 weeks………. first puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

11 –12 weeks……. second puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

15-16 weeks……… third puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

over 4 months…… Rabies ( repeat 1 year later)

7-9 months……… first heartworm test

Adult Dogs (after 1 year)

DHLPP…… Yearly

Heartworm Test……Yearly

Rabies……. Yearly

Bordetella….. booster every 6 months