WINTER COAT CARE FOR PET HEALTH

Winter is a very hard time of year for pets. As the days shorten, the lack of sunshine brings about changes in coat growth. Many breeds grow an extra layer undercoat, the thick wooly �pelt� that insulates a sled dog or a working collie dry on the misty, rainy hills of Yorkshire.

Most pets sleep the day away in warm homes and that�s a problem. That confuses the system. The genetically-ordered seasonal coat is uncomfortable, thus a cycle of growth and constant shedding begins. As a pet groomer, here are some special winter tips:

Giving him a CLEAN COAT is the kindest thing you can do for your dog. A clean, well-brushed coat, professionally bathed, dried completely down to the skin, meaning the loose undercoat has been lifted and raked out, cuts down on the amount of hair in the home, and reduces the allergen-causing dander that results from dry itchy skin.

Read that paragraph again and follow the logic. Many people think a dog doesn�t need bathing in the winter but that is the most important time of year due to the dry, heated inside air. You might think about that for your own hair� Also, a CLEAN coat insulates because it layers properly, trapping air under the top coat to hold body warmth.

For dogs who love to play in the winter snow, use a silicone based spray-in conditioner to repel snow from the coat. You can purchase this at most pet supply stores. Check ear tips and toe pads regularly for frostbite. Do not leave pets in the snow or ice for more than 30 minutes at a time. If ice has formed between the toes, place the feet in comfortably warm water to facilitate melting and then dry thoroughly. TIP: use a towel or chamois first, then blot with a paper towel to absorb the last bit of moisture.

Keep hair on paws and pads trimmed short. Toenails should not touch the floor. Long nails make footing treacherous, can be broken off, and either may require a trip to the vet. Long nails can damage pads and the muscles that support the foot, leading to orthopedic problems.

Snow and ice-melting chemicals can damage or burn tender feet and pads, and subsequent licking and ingestion can make your dog sick and can be a diagnostic nightmare! Rinse feet well after every time outside unless you can convince your pet to wear paw protectors.

A good coating of Udder Balm (lanolin) can help soothe dry chapped feet and noses. And don't forget: a little extra omega 3 fatty acid supplement will help keep coat and skin in perfect condition! Be careful of winter burn on white and light colored dogs and use a sunscreen approved for pets!!!

Especially in winter, a professional groomer is your pet�s best friend!

A SILENT NIGHT FOR OUR MILITARY & WAR DOGS

During the Holiday season, we had much to be thankful for. If you are reading this, you are most likely not serving in a war zone. Please ask for blessings for those who are, for they keep our freedoms and protect us in ways you can only imagine.

If you are reading this, you care about the dog world and most likely know and understand what is happening in the world around us. You know that different enemies are trying to take away life with dogs as we know it. In the next few years, everything we know about the dog show world is going to change and I predict change will be dramatic.

In times of economic stress, we cut back on things we can live without, and we make do in other ways. For dog owners, that could mean fewer vet visits, a lesser brand of dog food, not traveling as far from home for shows or breedings, picking shows and judges much more carefully. The normal folks in the world cut back on hair style appointments, buy less expensive cuts of meat, make more casseroles and large batches of soups. We all stretch the budget...

But when Government starts stretching the budget all kinds of things suffer. People loose their jobs. Programs people have depended on are cut back. Like nursing staff at health departments, WIC programs, STD clinics, Cancer detection Clinics, Well Baby Clinics.

The military suffers too. Our military might is already being shifted from one sand box to another and I fear the consequences of that budget stretching. It will mean cheaper weapons, cheaper protective gear, cheaper vehicles and in WAR, cheap is never better!!!!! If a soldier doesn't have the money to buy the very best, and most do not, they have to put their life on the line with government issue.

WAR is expensive. The military spends thousands of dollars acquiring and training a military dog and handler and we have already seen on the news some heart breaking stories of DOG WAR HEREOS. These dogs do so much to protect our men and women, they sniff out bombs and IED's, they protect with their lives where necessary.

They should never EVER be left behind, even if their time is through, they should be brought back to the US and go through a re-homing project. You cannot convince me there is not room for a crate on a military transport, or that some airline CEO doesn't have a soft spot for dogs and would offer a ride to a war dog needing a lift home.

Silent night Holy night. War from within, war from without...The politicians get in the way and war dogs get left behind. How DISGRACEFUL.

On a personal note, I understand completely about Budgets!! On Sept 28th I had an altercation with a metal computer main frame, and it won. It sliced my hand across the fingers on top, severed one tendon, nicked another. After surgery to repair the damage, I was in a cast to my elbow for 6 weeks and am just now getting back to work full time, although still typing with one hand and one finger. I am still in physical therapy but have gotten back terrific range of motion. The strength training will take longer. I have missed being active on TheDogPress and sure hope to get back in the groove!!!

- Vickie Haywood, Dog Care Editor