As you know, our weather can get rather extreme here in Manitoba. We range from approximately forty five degrees Celsius in the summer to minus 50 degrees Celsius in the winter months. This can be extremely hard on your pets so I’d like to address some things that we can do to keep our animals safe and happy during our winter months.
First of all, your dog or cat should never be left outside for extended periods of time, just like people they are prone to frostbite and hypothermia. To ensure that you and your beloved pet are going into the coldest months well prepared, make sure they are up to date with their wellness examination as well as preventative care such as vaccinations and blood work. At their annual checkup you can discuss things such as arthritis and stiffness, how their heart and lungs sound, how your pet is aging, etc. which are all things that may affect your pets tolerance to the cold.
Your pet’s tolerance of the cold weather will also be affected by coat type, how much body fat they have, size of the pet, etc. but regardless of this all pets are at risk! Dogs should be let outside only briefly to go to the bathroom and return back inside the house, walks should be kept to a minimum but if you have a high energy breed that requires exercise you can put a dog jacket or sweater on them as well as some dog boots to help keep them warm and prevent frostbite. If you are worried that your dog or cat has frostbite or hypothermia you should take them to your regular veterinarian as soon as possible.
During these cold snaps when your pets can’t get the same physical exercise that they’re accustomed to there are some things you can do to help keep them mentally stimulated in the house. Food puzzles and games are a simple and affordable way to keep your pet busy, there are many options online and they have different difficulty levels starting at beginner for a pet that hasn’t done a puzzle before. Make your dog work for his or her food, throwing dry food that won’t make a mess down a staircase and making them go up and down the stairs for the food is a good way to help them get some physical exercise while indoors. Many dogs can also be easily trained to walk on a treadmill if you have one at home as well, this is a great alternative to having them go outdoors for a walk.
Many dogs will also enjoy a game of hide and go seek and it’s very simple, all they need to know is stay! Simply have your dog sit or lay down and stay in an area of the house while you go and hide, call your dog one time and release them from their stay and let them sniff you out, make sure to reward with a treat when they find you.
Tug of war is another great game to physically and mentally challenge your dogs, just make sure it’s safe and controlled while playing, to play this game with your dog they should know the “out” or “drop it” command. The cold weather is also a great opportunity to teach your dog or cat a new trick and work on their general obedience, try practicing “heel” with your dog without a leash all around your home, this will help their manners on leash as well when it’s warm enough to go outside again, or practice their “stay” command, this will help keep them mentally active.
Introduce them to new people and places, although your pet can’t go for walks outdoors you can find some pet friendly stores to take your dog into for something to do, please note that this should only be done if your dog is well socialized and if you have full control over your dog in public settings.
Give them something to chew on, many dogs love having something to chew on, bully sticks or Kongs stuffed with frozen baby food are great options for dogs that seem to be able to chew anything quickly. Cats can also be fed out of a treat ball for mental and physical exercise, and many cats will happily chase a toy wand for hours on end. Catnip or honeysuckle toys are a great way to help keep our feline friends busy as well. They also love having lots of different surfaces to be able to scratch and climb on such as cat trees and cardboard boxes, this is a great natural way for them to be mentally stimulated.
Hopefully some of these tips have helped give you some ideas as to what you can do with your pet while it’s too cold for them outside and please never leave your animals outside during freezing temperatures.
From Katie
Before you go ahead and get a new puppy, there are a number of factors to consider if a new puppy is right for you and your family at this time. All members of the household should discuss together their feelings towards bringing a new puppy into the home. This also means taking into consideration any current pets, and how they will react to having a new puppy in the home. Care duties should be discussed to ensure each member will know what is expected of them when the new puppy comes, and everyone is aware of the amount of work a new puppy will be. Who will feed the puppy 3-4 times a day? Who will take the puppy outside for potty breaks, and who will clean up after the puppy? Who will be responsible for training the puppy and keeping a schedule in place for the puppy’s care? 
A new puppy will take a lot of time to properly care for. Each day try to imagine if you already had a new puppy, do you have time every single day to devote hours to training, playing with, feeding, cleaning up after, and exercising a puppy? Will you be able to ensure the puppy is let outside every 30-60 minutes while house training? In the first couple weeks, this can mean a trip or two outside at night as well. The puppy will need vet visits every 3-4 weeks until he/she is 16 weeks of age. Once the vaccine series is done, the puppy should be enrolled in weekly puppy manners lessons.
Puppies are expensive, not just to buy (average puppy price approximately $1000), but to properly care for as well. The first 6-8 months are generally the most expensive when it comes to routine care. You’ll need to buy a kennel, collar, leash, food and water dishes, blankets, beds/pillows, toys, food, treats, etc (average cost $350-$500). Your puppy will also need a vet visit at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age for healthy growth check-ups and vaccinations. Vaccines the puppy will receive will protect him/her against many viruses including parvo, which is a very common virus that is almost unavoidable. If a puppy contracts parvo, it is almost always fatal without veterinary care. Treatment for parvo can cost $2000+, and mean the puppy is hospitalized for a week or more, so it really is better for you and your puppy to ensure he/she is protected from this virus by vaccinating. The puppy will also need his/her neuter/spay at 6-8 months of age. The average cost of puppy vaccine series, spay/neuter, microchip, deworming, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick prevention for a puppy is approximately $1000-$1500 depending on the size of the pet, and the presurgical options you choose. This means in 6-8 months of puppy ownership, when it comes to buying the dog, accessories, and routine vet care, it could cost $2350 – $3000. This does not include ongoing costs, such as grooming, and dog food.
Look ahead. Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, even 15 years? A dog is a lifetime commitment. If you think you may move homes, change jobs, or have other major life changes (have kids, etc), make sure these plans will still work if you also have your dog. Shelters are full of previously owned dogs whose owners chose not to keep them for one reason or another. If you choose to get a puppy now, make sure he/she does not end up in a shelter in the future.
Regular exercise helps keep their energy under control and therefore 
When not in motion, she enjoys looking at the sights from the dash board of the truck. When walking through a truck stop you notice lots of dogs in the windows but not many cats so you do a double take when you see one.
Thought we would share our unique story.
Vaccinate your dog for Lyme Disease. Even when using tick preventative, as well as doing a regular ‘tick check’ on your dog, there is still a small chance a tick may become attached and transmit disease, such as Lyme Disease. Deer ticks are extremely small and tend to be extremely difficult to find on a dog, even when fully engorged. A Lyme vaccine needs a booster 2-3 weeks after the first time it is given, and then should be repeated yearly to provide the best protection. Ticks become active once it is 4°C. If we are having unseasonably warm days in the winter, it is possible for ticks to emerge, causing a potential for infection outside of the April – November ‘tick season’. Having the yearly Lyme vaccine can help to protect your dog all year round.
