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Pets G O O D L I V I NG
It’s not clear which harms dogs’ feet more: ice and snow‚ or the salt used to melt them․
Don’t overlook opportunities to give your dog a workout inside, too—a long hallway makes an excellent spot for playing fetch, for instance. Try doing training exercises with younger pups (or even with older ones—they can learn new tricks!). Or turn mealtimes into a chance to tire them out a little. O’Bell says she finds even small changes in her own pets’ routines help rev up their energy: “Try putting your dog’s kibble in a treatdispensing toy or puzzle feeder one morning, instead of in her bowl.” Krol also recommends playing hide-and-seek with treats placed around your home.
Watch Their Weight Just as with us humans, dogs’ energy requirements can fluctuate over the course of a year. So during this season, when your pooch may be less active because of the colder weather, you might want to scale back that two-cups-aday habit. “Talk to your vet about a healthy feeding reduction and how to help your dog cope with it,” O’Bell says. One solution she suggests is teaching your pet to like vegetables such as green beans, which contain fewer calories for their volume than kibble. But this being the holidays, your trusty companion deserves to be indulged sometimes. Krol and O’Bell confess to treating
their own pets to people food on occasion, and that’s fine so long as you avoid nibbles that can do dogs harm, including chocolate, raisins and grapes, raw onions and garlic, and tree nuts (particularly macadamias). Krol also advises against ever giving dogs anything labeled “sugar-free.” These products contain sweeteners like xylitol, which can lead to low blood sugar or liver failure.
Pet-Proof Holiday Décor “Every year we treat animals that have chewed on ornaments and electric cords,” says Krol. So take precautions: Avoid low-hanging decorations and lights strung on the bottom branches of your Christmas tree, tape up cords or use a cord protector, sweep up pine needles (if eaten, they can cause digestive problems, depending on the amount), and secure your tree to prevent it from getting knocked over. (If you have cats as well, skip tinsel and similar stringy decorations: Many felines can’t resist eating them, which can lead to serious GI obstructions.) A lot of plants that are popular during the holidays, including mistletoe, holly, and poinsettia, can be toxic in large amounts, so keep those out of reach, too. And be especially mindful of countersurfers when entertaining, since much of the bounty on offer can be harmful to pets. “Make sure plates are cleared after meals, and move trash and recycling bins out of reach,” says O’Bell.
