"Living With Your Pet Tips": Round-Up Of Cold Weather Pet Care

                      Brrr...Baby It's Gonna Get Cold Outside!

We've not had terribly cold or snowy weather yet...But remember that last year's Polar Vortex didn't strike till the first few days of January!

It never hurts to remind yourself of the best ways to care for your pets when the temps start to drop,  particularly if you're as old as Parental Unit and need gentle memory nudges. So we brought you some nifty safety tips from the country's top animal welfare organizations to ensure that your pets (horses, too!) keep warm, dry and safe when outdoors this winter.

Up first are these cold weather tips from our friends at the ASPCA. One important habit Parental Unit tends to forget when she's rushing off to work on icy mornings is to give the car hood a good knock before she starts the engine. Since we don't have a garage, stray cats or wildlife might take refuge on top of the tires or in the underbelly of the car to keep warm. Starting the car first is not a good idea!  And always remember to thoroughly wipe your dogs paws after each outing to remove ice, snow and potentially poisonous ice melting chemicals.

These strategies from the Humane Society of the United States will help keep your pet safe and warm this winter, too. Don't forget to keep antifreeze and other hazardous chemicals stored out of Fido's reach, and to clean up any spills immediately. These tips also explain how to give feral cats a helping paw during cold weather, and exactly what to do if you see what appears to be a family pet left out in the cold.  

Most cold weather pet care tips include making sure your furry friend has a warm, dry bed off the floor and away from drafts. Now, we think this is a given, but in our case, it might be Parental Unit who needs that off-the-floor bed!

There's enough room for you, Parental Unit—you just have to curl up a bit...

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