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Brrr.... it's cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your pets when the mercury dips.

Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice. Dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than any other season, so make sure your pet has ID tags and is microchipped.

Thoroughly wipe off your dog's paws when he comes in out of the snow and ice. He can ingest salt and antifreeze while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from the snow and ice.

Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.

Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze.

Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter months. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside.

Bring your pets indoors in extreme temperatures. Even if you can only bring them in at night, you are doing them a huge favor! If you absolutely can not bring your pet indoors, here is what you need to provide:
Dog houses that are well insulated. Wooden houses keep the heat in far better than plastic ones.
Straw can be purchased to use as bedding to keep the floor of the dog house warmer.
The shelter should have the door facing out of the direction of the wind.
Provide extra food. Outdoor pets will benefit from an extra feeding since calories help them stay
warm.
Provide daily fresh water. There are many low priced heated pet water bowls that keep the water from
freezing.