More often than not, the most popular de-icing salt or the cheapest is dangerous to our furry friends. They contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation and burns, digestive upset if ingested and even nervous system problems. The sodium chloride component breaks down in their system and causes sodium toxicity, this results in staggering, lethargy and even seizures.
What most people don't understand is that the risk is not only associated with dogs who eat the salt right from the bag, but the ones who lick it off their paws after being outside. So the next time you need to buy salt, look for bags that have a pet-friendly label on it, they typically contain urea, glycols, or other non-salt components. It is important to know that even these options can cause problems if ingested in large quantities.
Source (Image): Top Dog Tips
Most of our pets love to jump and play in the snow. This is ok as long as we pay close attention to how long they have been outside and what the temperature is. Dogs don’t often complain about being too cold until it is too late, so we have to be the referee.
When the temperature drops below freezing, most dogs can only be outside for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes less if it is extremely windy. Conditions that can occur as a result of being out in the cold are:
Hypothermia: Occurs when your pet's body temperature drops below its normal 100 - 102 degrees. Signs include shallow breathing, slow pulse, collapse and unconsciousness.
Frostbite: Occurs when dogs are exposed to the cold for an extended period of time. Pale or grey skin, cold to the touch and hard. If the tissue is not too damaged then it will start to appear red as it thaws. If it is extreme frostbite then the skin will appear black and slough off over the course of a couple weeks.
Source (Image): The Happy Dog Spot
Dogs and puppies end up at animal shelters for a variety of different reasons. Whether a family member discovered they have allergies, the owner was not ready for the responsibility, or they passed away, a new dog doesn't get along with the current dog of the household etc… the list goes on and on. While shelters do their best to give great care to these animals, due to the volume of puppies and dogs - the conditions are typically less than ideal.
The bottom line is that shelters are full and adopters are needed across the world. When people think of adopting they typically focus too much on the potential cons and not enough on all the pros. Some of the pros are below:
The next time you are thinking about getting another dog, stop and review all of the pros of adoption. Save a life, change a life, and make a difference in your community.
Source (Image): PBS
Take a look at this heartwarming article written by a young lady who suffered from depression and anxiety. See how her canine companion helped her manage this unfortunate condition.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathryn-oda/how-a-dog-helped-me-manag_b_9301622.html
