Winter Safety Advice for Pets and Pet Parents - and More Marvellous March News!

Cold Weather Safety Tips for Your Furry Friends.

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer.

Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, please heed the following advice from the experts at ASPCA:

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
• Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
• Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
• Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Source:  https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cold-weather-safety-tips

Trust Kamp K-9 Mississauga to care for your cherished canines. We have everything you and your BFF need.

Jobs for Dog Lovers!  

We need Kamp K-9 Kounsellors for:

• Saturday & Sunday morning shift:     6am - 2pm
• Saturday & Sunday overnight shift:  10pm - 6 am

If you're interested in creating new friendships with four-legged friends, please submit your application through the Contact Us page of our website. See Employment Opportunities.

More Marvellous March Events

March 8:  International Women's Day
March 10:  Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 am. Remember to "Spring forward"
March 11:  Spring Break Begins. Do you have Boarding for Boyd and Daycare for Daisy covered?
March 16:  Drug-Free Teeth Cleaning Clinic. There are 2 spots left.
March 17:  Saint Patrick's Day. There's a recipe below.
March 20:  Spring Equinox. Finally!

Homemade Dog Treats They'll Flip For!

Honouring Saint PATrick’s Day

You won't need the luck of the Irish to make these delicious treats for your four-legged Leprechauns this month. Celebrate the Feast of Saint Patrick with these paws-itively perfect tail wagging treats. They're magically delicious!

Doggie Green Bean Crunchies

A great source of protein for pups, this easy dog treat recipe comes from the SkinnyMs blog. Healthy for humans, too, try green beans as a snappy snack. Perfect for pups trying to lose weight, these homemade dog treats are deceptively delicious.

McMochi’s Pot O’ Gold Dog Biscuits

Despite their name, these homemade dog biscuits are actually a gorgeous shade of green! Spinach, a dog-friendly super-food, does the trick as well as providing protein, fiber, iron and essential vitamins. For the Love of Pooch blogger taste tests all creations on her pup Mochi, so this St. Patrick’s Day dog treat recipe is canine-approved.

Bark Beer for Dogs

Get the pawty started this St. Patrick’s Day with a recipe for homemade Bark Beer! Completely non-alcoholic, the refreshing (for dogs) beverage is sure to be a hit with canine company. Use chicken or beef stock, adding spinach for a healthy dose of color and vitamins.

Fetch the recipes for yummy in their canine tummy treats. And remember, "a best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.”

We love dogs! Come to Kamp K-9 for the best Boarding and Daycare services in the business.