As winter settles in, it is important to be prepared to protect your pets from the harmful effects of cold weather and everything it brings.  Here are my top 5 tips for keeping your pet happy and healthy during our crazy Ontario winter.

Snow puppy or couch potato?  Not all pets love the cold.  Puppies, older dogs, and dogs with any health issues will not be able to tolerate spending much time outdoors in the winter.  Be sure to have your pet health checked by your veterinarian and know what their cold weather limits are.  

You also need to give your dog a warm place to sleep indoors during winter months. The ideal choice is to provide a cozy bed in a large floor area and let the dog choose what it prefers. 

Be cautious around any heat sources (fireplaces, space heaters) and keep your dog and any blankets or bedding a safe distance from these. 

“What is the best food to feed my dog?” … This is a question on the minds of all dog owners. Which food is best? There are countless resources and lists online of ‘The 10 best Dog Foods’, and similarly to how we are continually confused with the mixed opinions of human nutrition, dog nutrition is just the same. Raw or processed? Wet or Dry? Beef or chicken? Kangaroo??? Please think for a moment. How can any one particular dog food – or even a list of 10 or 20 be “best” for every dog? That’s right. It can’t. Dogs have different requirements as people do through every stage of their life from puppy to senior. Plus, breeds have particular needs and individual dogs within breeds all have specific needs.

Nothing sounds sweeter than an adorable puppy for a Christmas surprise. Watching loved ones faces light up when a tiny ball of fur wrapped in Christmas ribbon snuggles into their awaiting arms brings the most heartfelt festive feeling.

If you are thinking of getting a puppy or gifting a puppy over the Christmas holidays, the following list is for you.