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WELLNESS

DOG HEALTH: 5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE THIS WINTER

Welcome to winter everyone! Although it has been a mild couple of days here in Toronto, the cold will inevitably be returning once again, so to prepare our pets and make sure we keep them as safe and as snugly as possible, here are five winter dog safety tips.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #1: IF YOU’RE COLD, THEY’RE COLD
It really irks me when I hear people (usually non dog-owners) say, “The dog has a fur coat. He’ll be fine outside.” This is simply not true. Dogs feel the cold just like we do. If you have a short-haired pupster, invest in a proper winter jacket for him. If your dog is starting to shake and tremble while out for their walk, call it early and take them back inside. Avoid the risk of frostbite by playing it safe rather than sorry and realizing that dogs are not invincible.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #2: PUMP UP THE PROTEIN
Not by too much and of course always consult with your vet before altering your pet’s diet, but often times increasing your pet’s protein intake will help them to grow thicker, warmer coats to ward off chilly winter breezes.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #3: AVOID SIDEWALK SALTS
Little paws are extremely sensitive to sidewalk salts and can easily crack, bleed and cause considerable pain. Avoid areas that are covered in horrid little salt crystals whenever possible. Sometimes of course that is impossible, so consider buying some little boots for your dog. Yes, they will look ridiculous. Yes they will have an exceptional ‘funny walk’ happening, but the boots will protect their paws from harm.

If your dog absolutely will not wear a pair of boots, consider a pet paw balm instead available at most pet supply stores. And be sure to gently towel dry their paws after a walk so that pieces of salt don’t linger and further irritate their sensitive tootsies!

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #4: USE PLASTIC OR CERAMIC
Did you know that vets see a lot of injured pet tongues during the winter? Know why? It is because some furry friends try to drink out of metal dishes in the cold and their tongues get stuck. Help them stay hydrated and unstuck by opting for plastic or ceramic bowls.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #5: KEEP THEM WARM
You many think that your furry friend is snug as a bug whenever indoors, but in reality a lot of homes temperatures drop significantly during the evenings and early morning. Be sure your pet has a lovely place to sleep, somewhere raised up from the ground and covered in blankets so they can burrow and have some extra warmth if need be.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you bath your dog during the winter, keep them warm immediately after getting out of the tub and do not take them outdoors until they are completely dry. Otherwise they might catch a nasty chill.

{Photography by Pawsh Studio}

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This article was made possible by EZ X Harness. The EZ X Harness takes safety, comfort and control to a new level! Avoid neck injuries and eliminate pulling! Just Easy On and Easy Off. Great for sport, about town or riding in the car! Available in all sorts of colours — a safe style for everyone! Follow them on Facebook!

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DOGS AND BATHROOM SAFETY: 5 DANGERS TO AVOID

LIFESTYLE, WELLNESS
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We all know why it is important to pet-proof our homes, after all there are a lot of things that can harm our furkids. But one room that sometimes gets overlooked is the good old bathroom. Yes, one might think that it would be a refuge for peace and quiet away from our doglets, but as any pet parent will share, that isn’t always the case. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of dogs and bathroom safety.
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PET WELLNESS: 3 DOG-FRIENDLY AT-HOME WORKOUTS

So the new year is here in case you haven’t heard and with it often comes a determined resolution to ‘get in shape.’ What most of us don’t think about, however, upon declaring our renewed loyalty to fitness is that January is a horribly frigid month to work out. Going for a run or even a long meandering walk becomes infinitely more difficult when -25C comes a calling (yes, for our non-Canadian readers, temperatures do plummet!)

But don’t despair! We have cooked up 3 easy dog-friendly winter workouts that won’t be deterred by bad weather to help you keep your promise to yourself.

1. WORKOUT #1: DOWNWARD DOG
We talk a lot about yoga (or doga – yoga for dogs) here on Pawsh, mostly because it is a fantastic way to keep body and mind happy and healthy. All you need for this workout is a yoga mat, a large open space to stretch out in and some soothing zen music.

If you know some yoga moves, work yourself through them. If you don’t, pick up any at-home yoga DVD (I personally love TurboFire; the fitness set has some powerful yoga training sessions in it). Yoga not only helps you to keep limber, but it can build muscle strength too. If you push yourself as well, you will definitely break a glorious sweat!

How your dog can join in: Throw a dog-friendly yoga party with friends. The dogs will love being part of the fun.

2. WORKOUT #2: DANCE!
It’s easy to fall into a case of the ‘winter blues,’ but an even easier way to avoid them is to dance – regularly! A wonderful form of exercise, dancing release endorphins which has been proven to improve mood and emotional outlook.

Take some time each day to throw on the radio or your favourite playlist and dance around the house without a care in the world. 30 to 45 minutes will do! Or, if you’d like to actually learn a particular form of dance, consider another at-home DVD routine and spend some time each day working on your moves.

How your dog can join in: Ever notice how if you’re moving around the house your dog will follow? The same is often true of dancing! Rather than sit on a couch and watch the world go by, your dog will most likely get up to see what you’re doing and (better yet) join in the bouncing around!

A beautiful photo series of dancers and their dogs

3. WORKOUT #3: AN APP THAT FITS
I have something of a love-hate relationship with gyms. Part of me loves the hustle and bustle, the social factor and the ‘you can do it’ atmosphere. But the other part of me hates how hard it is to cancel memberships, the perpetual smell of feet and waiting in line for machines.
So this winter, why not run your own gym at home with some clever apps? Here are two that I’m loving right now:

Nike Training Club – easy to use and oh-so effective, you’ll be sore after any of these workouts. Set your goals, set your desired workout times and off you go! You can choose between get lean, get toned, get strong or get focused and workouts can be as brief as 20 minutes, yet very effective!

The app creates a daily program for you to help you reach your fitness goals without having to spend hours every day working out. Whether its your core, legs or cardio you want to focus on, this app covers it all! ANDROID | iPHONE

PumpUp – this nifty app was developed by students in Waterloo and is remarkable. It too allows you to set goals and work towards them in a totally customized manner. Plus it offers a cool social aspect, kind of like a Facebook feed, where you can interact with other users who are also pursuing fitness. The social aspect is awesome as it allows you to motivate each other and get a friendly sense of competition going. ANDROID

How your dog can join in: While Fido won’t be able to lift weights with you, he can be present for your workout and engaged by your activity. Plus, with all the time you’ve saved not trekking out to the gym and back, you can fit in an extra game of in-house fetch or catch to help pupster burn a few extra calories too.

{Huge thanks to my incredible friend and talented artist Tonya Pet Photography for photographing this feisty installment of the “Pet Wellness” column.}

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This article was made possible by DogTrot Fitness — Canada’s exclusive distributor of the PetRun line of dog treadmills — the ideal solution if your dog doesn’t love dog parks.

Adequate exercise is equally important to your dog’s wellness as a healthy diet. Even if you can’t run WITH your dog, we can help you meet his exercise needs, regardless of weather. With running decks scaled to suit any stride, there’s a PetRun treadmill for every size of dog! WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

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DOG HEALTH: HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG YOUNG

WELLNESS
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Any pet parent can attest that dogs are always young at heart – it is one of their most lovable and endearing qualities. But there are a few extra things we can do to help our canine sidekicks stay healthy and live longer. Here are six simple tips to keep in mind!

1. Stay active
Just like humans, a dog who stays active will generally stay healthier and fitter than a dog who sits on the couch all day. Regular exercise not only helps to keep muscles and joints limber, but it can also avoid health concerns related to pet obesity and keep their digestive situation on track. So be sure to get your dog out for a nice long walk or run every day!
2. Play!
Did you know that playing can help to keep a dog young? Playing is vital to any dog’s happiness. Whether they like fetch, tug-of-war, rough house or simply chasing after squirrels, all manner of play encourage a dog to develop social skills, use their brains and stay active. Play is also a way for older dogs to stay connected with their ‘inner puppy’ if you will. Try this DIY Thinking Dog Game or this At-Home Seeking Dog Game to add more play to your dog’s day, no matter what their age!
3. Eat well
A healthy diet is important to any dog’s well being. Not only can eating right offer all sorts of health benefits, but it can also improve a dog’s coat quality and help them fight the common signs of canine aging. Consider adding these 5 dog-friendly human foods to your dog’s snack list or these nutritious dog foods to help keep Fido in tip-top shape.
4. Embrace old age
This might sound the opposite of keeping a dog young, but some of the most common injuries that inflict older dogs occur when they try to do things beyond their physical abilities. If your dog has difficulty moving up and down stairs, consider building a ramp or keeping them restricted to the main level of the house so they avoid the risk of falling.

If your dog is slowing down but insists on dashing off like crazy after a Frisbee, consider modifying a game of fetch to gently rolling a ball on the ground instead so they can better avoid potentially tearing something. Prevention of injury is always better than recovering from an injury, so be mindful of your dog’s stage of life and create activities that will keep them busy without pushing them too hard.
5. Teach them new tricks
Contrary to the popular saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” you can – and actually should – teach your dog new tricks to help keep those doggie brains sharp and youthful. New tricks reinforce focus and mental process for a dog, while also reinforcing their bond with you and allowing them to have fun!

Consider training your dog how to crawl, or how to play ‘dead dog,’ or how to ‘seek’ their toys. Each new skill or trick that is learned and thus requested of a dog on a regular basis helps to keep them engaged, active and stimulated.
6. Visit your vet often
Regular check ups at the vet are a must no matter what your dog’s age, but as they get a little older it is important to make sure you don’t fall behind on those vet visits. Should your dog develop a medical issue it is always better to catch it sooner than later, so keep in touch with your vet, ask questions and be aware of any changes in your dog. True, your dog is not going to LOVE going to the vet more frequently, but they will thank you in the end.

{Huge thanks to my incredible friend and talented artist Tonya Pet Photography for photographing this delicious installment of the “Pet Wellness” column.}

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