Winter can be incredibly hard on a dog's paws. While a dog's paw does form a hard callus, this does not prevent them from the possibility of frostbite or dry and cracking feet. If you live in areas that suffer from particularly harsh weather, there are a few things you will want to do to protect your dog's paws during your winter season adventures. Even if your dog is a cold weather breed, these tips should be used to reduce the possibility of paw damage. Chapped Paws Are Just Like Chapped Lips The winter weather often leads to dryness, which can cause your dog's paws to split or crack. This can be extremely painful for your pet, but luckily it's entirely preventable. Special balms that are formulated for dog pads can be purchased online or at any pet retailer. All you need to do is rub these balms gently into your dog's paw pads on a regular basis. You may need to clip any loose strands of fur on your dog's pad before application, as paw pad balm is usually a thick and waxy material.   Image credit Dog Boots Take Some Getting Used To Dog boots are also an excellent option for pets that need to go out during the winter season, but they do take some practice. You may want to start getting your pup accustomed to walking with their dog boots a few weeks before winter arrives. Dog boots need to be snug but not uncomfortable. You can test the fit of your dog's boots by gently tugging on them and seeing whether they shift. If your dog lifts their paws, whines or hesitates before walking, it is likely the boot is too tight. Stay In During Extreme Weather If the weather is cold enough that you hesitate before going outside, it may be too cold for your pet as well. When the weather has become very extreme, you may need to explore alternate options for your dog. You can consider placing down mats within your mud room or within your garage so your dog can relieve itself during the worst of the winter storms. As long as you create a specific area for your dog, your dog should understand that they are not allowed to go anywhere else in your home. Many dogs absolutely love the winter season, but they aren't aware of the potential dangers. Like a child, your dog will rely on you to protect him or her against the brutal elements. By following a few simple tips, you'll be able to ensure that your dog can continue enjoying the snowy weather without any lasting damage.

One of the determining factors between being a cat person or a dog person is the propensity for pet purification. If you’re the type of individual that doesn’t mind weekly scrub-downs, dog ownership probably wouldn’t be an odd fit. If, on the other hand, you prefer your pet to spend significant portions of the day de-matting their fur and keeping their coats shiny, you might find more common ground with a feline. Though cats are indeed capable of letting their coats get out of hand, and usually for potentially dangerous reasons.  A cat that’s lost interest in grooming is often a harbinger for a vet visit. There could be any number of reasons why the kitty isn’t being cleanly, but the most common are disease or aging. An aging cat can lose mobility, flexibility, and energy. So they may be in pain when trying to get the right angle for self-grooming. Or the entire cleanup process might just be too taxing on their circulatory systems. Have you ever just had one of those days where you were too tired to shower? It’s kind of like that, only you’re using your own saliva for moisture… so yeah, a bit more difficult. Disease is the more threatening scenario. A lack of grooming accompanied by drooling or loss of appetite can signal gum disease. In this case, cats will quit grooming because using their mouths for much of anything is causing them pain Aside from not actually seeing your cat making much of an effort to keep clean, you will notice an unkempt kitty via a few tell-tale signs. Greasy or matted fur Urine or fecal stained feet A smelly cat stench Or food caught in their whiskers or facial fur Any and all of these symptoms are clues to a larger underlying dilemma. You need to determine what the cause of the sudden stoppage of self-scrubbing is about with a quickness. That is, unless you want to live with a stinky feline for the foreseeable future. Aside from aging or disease, your cat could be suffering from a trauma induced state of stress. This can cause a halt in grooming habits. It could be something like a move to a different location, the arrival of a new pet in the household, or any significant change in the cat’s routine. Since they are such resilient and independent creatures, it’s easy to forget that cats have their sensitive sides as well. So what can you do for an unclean kitty? Well, a vet visit is always an excellent option. Trained veterinary professionals are adept at identifying problems and prescribing solutions. You may also consider helping your cat groom with a regular brushing. This can often be a therapeutic activity for both you and your cat, and it will encourage them to take up the habit again. If you have a cat that’s stopped staying clean, be sure to examine it for other strange behavior, and work on getting them back in the habit of staying sanitary.