Protecting Your Pup in Winter

With recent wind chills well below zero, as humans we have been bundled and covered up to protect against frostbite, so what about our canine companions? In dangerous winter weather, it's equally important to keep our pets warm and safe when they have to be outside, from both the temperatures and from chemicals used to treat roads and sidewalks. The DC Ladies share tips on how to keep your dog safe for the duration of winter:

Salt and other ice melting products can be damaging to your pet’s paws.  Contact with these products can cause chemical burns to their paw pads if you take them on a long walk and they are exposed to the harsh chemicals. Ingesting these ice melting products can also be harmful to your pet.  If your pet ingests a small amount of ice melt it can cause an upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.  Larger amounts of ice melt ingestion can cause more serious side effects such as weakness and seizures.  In very severe cases, ingesting too much ice melt can be fatal.

There are pet friendly ice melt products on the market.  Safe Paw is a 100% salt free product that is not only safe for pets but for children as well.  It has been a vet and shelter recommended brand for years.  Safe Paw pellets are green so they are easily recognized when you are out with your pet.  Safe Paw can be found at Costco and other retailers.  Check their website for locations near you.   Morton, who you may know from your table salt, also has a pet friendly ice melt called Safe-T-Pet.  It is also 100% salt free to prevent irritation to your pets.  Safe-T-Pet can be found at Wal-Mart stores in the area.

Another chemical used frequently during the winter is antifreeze.  Antifreeze has a sweet flavor to pets and can be deadly if ingested.  Only a tablespoon of antifreeze can be deadly to an average-sized dog and fatality rates are around 88%.  Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze products can severely damage your pet’s liver, so make sure any antifreeze you use does not contain this chemical.  There is a less toxic chemical used in some antifreeze products that is propylene glycol-based.  Look for products containing this chemical when you are buying antifreeze for your car.

Since you cannot control what your neighbors use for winter chemicals, there are ways to help protect your pet.  If you are unsure of what a sidewalk is treated with, have your dog walk in the grass instead.  Wipe your pet’s paws with warm water and a clean cloth when they come in from the outside to remove any product that may be on their paws.  Also, be sure to wipe your shoes as well to prevent tracking anything inside.  If your pet is comfortable enough, there are booties available to protect your pet’s paws from snow and ice as well.  If your pet is not into boots, you can keep their paws protected by using pet balms on their pads to prevent cracking from cold exposure.

Hopefully these tips will not only help keep your pets safe, but help keep the pets in your neighborhood safe as well.

Pet Safety During the Holidays

"Bailey Puggins" by DaPuglet is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

For many people, pets are a member of the family, rather than a household companion. As there are hazards for children around the holidays, the same is true for pets. What household hazards should you be aware of this time of year? Keep these guidelines, courtesy of Apartment Therapy, in mind as you decorate your apartment for the holidays!

1. Avoid mistletoe and holly: While these decorations are fun and festive, they are poisonous to both cats and dogs. Go fake if you must have them around.

2. Opt for a fake tree if you have cats: While the toxicity levels in most fir trees isn't high enough to harm a dog, it can be high enough to cause stomach irritation and vomiting in a cat. Also, most cats can't digest pine needles, which isn't pleasant for pet or owner.

3. If you go real, cover that water: The most hazardous part of a real tree for dogs is the water bowl. There are countless pesticides and fertilizers in that water, which can be deadly to dogs.

4. Tape down cords: If you've trained your cats and dogs to avoid electronics, this isn't as much of an issue, but new things like twinkling bulbs can always cause crazy behavior in animals. Training tips can be found here, but if you find your little creatures are getting curious around those holiday twinkle lights, cover them with electrical tape and adhere to the floor to avoid electrocution.

5. Hire a smart and attentive sitter: When hiring a sitter over the holidays, let them know to look for signs of danger like broken bulbs or chewed cords and give them your vet's information just in case. If they know what to look for, they can step in and help in an emergency.

Of course, if your pet does a banner job of staying out of trouble, be sure to get them a stocking full of treats.

5 Ways Your Apartment Can Boost Your Mood

"Living Room" by Jeremy Levine is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Your apartment should be your oasis. After a stressful day, there is nothing better than coming home to a comfortable, calming place. There are ways you can arrange and decorate your apartment so that you get the ultimate mood boost when you get home. As we all know, even though your work day may be over, there is always dinner to cook and things to clean. Why not have an apartment that energizes you to get these chores done? Apartment Therapy provides tips on ways your apartment can boost your mood.

1. Light — Natural light is an amazing antidote to the blues. Although there are many studies linking darkness and depression, you don't need science to tell you that walking into a dark room doesn't exactly lift your spirits. Don't wallow in darkness; throw open the drapes and soak up some rays. Or if it's already dark out, light a calming candle and chill.

2. Color — You know that certain colors just make you feel alive: think reds and yellows. There's no need to overdo it — just a few touches of cheerful color will help to give you an unconscious lift when you walk in the door. Bonus: brights tend to encourage social behavior so using them in a public space like the living room is a plus.

3. Scent — Thanks to a part of your brain called the amygdala, scent is strongly linked to your memories and emotions, but it can also affect the current emotions in your brain. Choose smells like lavender and jasmine for calming and soothing, lemon and orange for energizing, or basil and mint to help improve your mood.

4. Pets/Plants — Ahhh, the healing power of a pet. When you walk in the door after a rough day, a wagging tail is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Can't have a pet? A plant is also a great idea. Nurturing something and watching it thrive is a human necessity that will always make us feel good.

5. Soft Geometry — This is a new one on us, but we all know that Oprah is never wrong. O magazine reports that choosing decor with curves may actually make you feel more content, thanks, once again, to that good ole' amygdala. Designer Johnny Grey puts it like this: "The reason has to do with your peripheral vision...if you were to walk down a dark, narrow tunnel lined with sharp rocks, you wouldn't be able to think about anything except avoiding getting hurt. If the key pieces and places are curved, that makes the body relax." Makes sense to us.