Every year as cold weather approaches, it is a good idea to check over the following tips and reminders so your pets will enjoy the fall and winter seasons.

Dogs do, as a general rule, love the great outdoors and the winter is no exception. In fact many seem to prefer the colder months and seem invigorated by it. Fortunately, dogs were born with “fur coats” and a higher tolerance to colder weather than their owners; but not all of them like to spend extended periods of time outdoors.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disease wherein a dog becomes allergic to its own tissues. This disease results in crusting, depigmentation, redness, and ulceration of the nose. Lesions may also appear around the eyes, ears, limbs, and other areas. DLE can occur at any age, and is seen more often in such breeds as Collies, German shepherds, Shelties, and Siberian huskies.

You are right to be concerned about proper identification should your dog or cat become lost. Nothing brings such a rush of angst more than the disappearance of a loved pet. With proper identification you can greatly increase the chance your pet will be returned to you.

From January 1998 to January 2003, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 44 calls regarding paintball ingestion by dogs that subsequently developed illness. 

Lead is found in old paints, some artist’s paints, lead toys, drapery weights, fishing sinkers, solder, wine bottle cork foils, battery plates, golf balls, improperly glazed ceramic dishes, used motor oil from engines that burn leaded gasoline, plumbing materials, linoleum, tile, and lead smelters. The most common route of a dog’s exposure to lead is by ingestion, but lead is highly absorbable when heated to release fumes. 

Pets that live outdoors or stay outside during the day should have plenty of fresh, clean water. The water should be renewed once to twice daily or as often as necessary. Pets also need a cool, shady place to lie down and rest, such as under a tree, shrub or porch. In the summer, your pet's favorite resting place is a perfect breeding ground for fleas (keep this in mind when de-fleaing your pet and yard).

A heat stroke can occur very quickly during the summer months. One of the simplest things you can do to prevent a heat stroke from occurring is to not leave your pet in a car unattended (even with the windows cracked).

It’s summer time again and we all love to be outdoors enjoying our dogs.  Training is in full swing and so are the “heat hazards”.  Unconditioned dogs, summer humidity, and improper cooling methods can all lead to a disastrous day of training! 

It's Fall, and Winter is just around the corner. Everyone is getting prepared, putting up storm windows, changing the anti-freeze in their cars, and exchanging summer clothes for winter woolens. But what can we do to help our four-legged friends? Here are a few ideas to consider.

Cold weather dog houses, if insulated and properly sized, can be heated by the dog’s own body heat (see article – Cold Weather Dog Houses). However, dog owners are looking to provide more comfort for their pets during cold winter weather by using dog house heaters.

Summertime is wonderful for outdoor activities for your pet, but can result in exposure to bees, wasps, hornets, ants, and other biting insects.

The onset of summer brings sunny days, warm temperatures and a plethora of outdoor activities for people and their pets. Here are some handy "animal health care" tips to follow to help you and your four-legged friends enjoy the sunny season.