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ENLARGE
CAPS CORNER
Jennifer Williamson
The nights are consistently cold these days, and you may be wondering if your outside family friends are going to be safe and healthy. Here are a few tips and ideas to make sure that your outdoor buddies are kept warm and safe.
Provide a doghouse that is facing away from the direction the wind usually blows. You can even put a piece of burlap or visquene to cover the doorway. This will help keep the warmth that the dog creates inside the doghouse. It is easy to staple the burlap or visquene around the edges of the doorway, if it is wood, with most dogs taking minimal encouragement to go through them. The doghouse should be big enough for the dog to sit and lie down, yet small enough to hold in his body heat.
Try to raise the floor of your doghouse a few inches from the ground, maybe using a pallet. You can put a blanket over the pallet then cover the blanket with straw or cedar on top to help your pet keep warm. He will always appreciate an old blanket or two; after all, it smells like you. The local thrift stores are a good resource for old blankets. Make sure that the doghouse is located in a dry area, one that doesn't collect water when it snows or rains. Otherwise, change the bedding out as necessary.
Your dog will consume more food during the winter because keeping warm takes more calories. Make sure that you increase the amount of food you give him. Also, use plastic for his water bowl. A dog's tongue can stick to a metal bowl just as a human's would. Check his water each day because it may freeze overnight. Dogs can quickly become dehydrated, even in the winter.
When deciding to bring him inside or not, not only should the temperature be considered but the also wind-chill factor. He will always appreciate a night inside. Talk to your local vet about when it is just too cold to leave your friend outside. If your dog is older, pregnant or in ill health, consult your vet about temperatures to which they can be exposed and adhere to those guidelines.
Don't forget about those feline friends. Cats will generally seek warmth, and sometimes that is beneath the hood of your car. Some good advice would be to tap on the hood to scare them out from under your car before starting it. Better yet, bring the cat inside at night.
It is still important to give your dog good exercise, whether it is on your regular walks or playing ball in the yard. This will keep him healthy and vigorous to make it through many winters to come.
Come see us at Wal-Mart on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You should make a point to come and get your 2010 Happy Endings Calendar because they are selling out quickly. And, since the holidays are over, isn't it time that you got something for yourself? Check out our new hooded/pocketed sweatshirts, our regular sweatshirts, new T-shirts with great graphics, totes and CAPS caps.
Jennifer Williamson, a Churchill County resident, is president of CAPS.
Provide a doghouse that is facing away from the direction the wind usually blows. You can even put a piece of burlap or visquene to cover the doorway. This will help keep the warmth that the dog creates inside the doghouse. It is easy to staple the burlap or visquene around the edges of the doorway, if it is wood, with most dogs taking minimal encouragement to go through them. The doghouse should be big enough for the dog to sit and lie down, yet small enough to hold in his body heat.
Try to raise the floor of your doghouse a few inches from the ground, maybe using a pallet. You can put a blanket over the pallet then cover the blanket with straw or cedar on top to help your pet keep warm. He will always appreciate an old blanket or two; after all, it smells like you. The local thrift stores are a good resource for old blankets. Make sure that the doghouse is located in a dry area, one that doesn't collect water when it snows or rains. Otherwise, change the bedding out as necessary.
Your dog will consume more food during the winter because keeping warm takes more calories. Make sure that you increase the amount of food you give him. Also, use plastic for his water bowl. A dog's tongue can stick to a metal bowl just as a human's would. Check his water each day because it may freeze overnight. Dogs can quickly become dehydrated, even in the winter.
When deciding to bring him inside or not, not only should the temperature be considered but the also wind-chill factor. He will always appreciate a night inside. Talk to your local vet about when it is just too cold to leave your friend outside. If your dog is older, pregnant or in ill health, consult your vet about temperatures to which they can be exposed and adhere to those guidelines.
Don't forget about those feline friends. Cats will generally seek warmth, and sometimes that is beneath the hood of your car. Some good advice would be to tap on the hood to scare them out from under your car before starting it. Better yet, bring the cat inside at night.
It is still important to give your dog good exercise, whether it is on your regular walks or playing ball in the yard. This will keep him healthy and vigorous to make it through many winters to come.
Come see us at Wal-Mart on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You should make a point to come and get your 2010 Happy Endings Calendar because they are selling out quickly. And, since the holidays are over, isn't it time that you got something for yourself? Check out our new hooded/pocketed sweatshirts, our regular sweatshirts, new T-shirts with great graphics, totes and CAPS caps.
Jennifer Williamson, a Churchill County resident, is president of CAPS.
