Happy New Year everyone! We hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season. With the cold winter weather upon us, we thought this would be a good time to share some cold weather tips with you. That way your pet can spend the winter months warm and safe.

Rodenticides: The use of rodenticides like De-con increases in the cooler temperatures with rodents wanting to move indoors. If ingested the results could be fatal. If you must use these products, please be very careful and put them in places your pet cannot get to.
Antifreeze: Most radiator antifreeze/coolant contains ethylene glycol and is highly toxic. It has a sweet taste to it. It is also very fast acting and results in kidney failure and death in as little as four to eight hours. If you think your pet may have ingested any antifreeze, please call us right away.
Fireplaces: With winter here you may be having fires in your fireplace. If so, make sure to protect it with a screen. Pets can be curious and get burned if unprotected from the fire.
Cold Weather: Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the temperature drops. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too.
Car engines: Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm, including car engines. Cats caught in moving engine parts can be seriously injured or killed. If the cat is lucky enough not to get injured, they could ride under the vehicle. This could cause them to fall off along the way or get lost when the vehicle stops. Before you turn your car on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood to scare them out.
De-icing products: Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical melts in their pads of their feet. To keep your pets pads from getting chapped or raw, wipe their feet with a warm washcloth when they come inside.
Doggie sweaters: Dogs with longer hair can handle colder temperatures better than shorter haired dogs. If you own a dog with short hair, consider getting a sweater with a high collar or turtleneck. Coverage should be from the base of the tail to the belly.

February is Dental Month. If you schedule a dental by Mar. 1st, you will receive $10.00 off of your pets dental. Bring this e-mail in at the time of your dental, and we will take $10.00 off.

Now that the busy holiday baking is all done, here is a recipe your dogs might enjoy.

“HOMEMADE DOG TREATS”

1/2 lb. ground beef, uncooked

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup mashed black beans

1/3 cup cottage cheese

1 tsp. soy sauce

Combine ground meat and chicken broth in a bowl. Add the black beans and cottage cheese. Add soy sauce. Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly. Mold the mixture into bone shapes and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool.

On behalf of all of us here at the Saukville Veterinary Clinic, we sincerely hope everyone has a safe and healthy new year. And just a reminder, if anyone has any ideas for us to research, just let us know.

Warm Wishes

Saukville Veterinary Clinic Staff