December is here, and with it we already have some unusually cold days. How cold is too cold for your pet? If the temperature is at or below freezing, be sure to bring pets indoors. Cats can be let out for short periods but should come in after a couple hours at most. Dogs can go for walks and play time, but put a jacket or sweater on them if they have very short fur, have been clipped down (for surgery or routine grooming), or have very lean bodies – like Greyhounds. Consider covering the pet if the weather is wet, too; damp fur is going to get colder, faster. Don't let pets swim when it's very cold out either. If they get soaked in a local pond or stream,  dry them off as soon as you can. The salt put on roads and sidewalks is not poisonous, but can be irritating to the feet. Wipe them off with a damp cloth when you get home if you see salt on the pads. Car anti-freeze IS very toxic, so don't let pets anywhere near this and clean up spills or leaks immediately!

Halloween is coming soon, and it’s fun to have your pets participate. We’d prefer everyone to have a safe, fun evening so here are some tips to keep the fur kids safe. Some hazards are obvious: chocolate can be toxic to pets. Dark chocolate is worse than milk chocolate, but if you have any doubts call a vet as soon as you know the pet has eaten any. Other candies can contain artificial sweeteners and one, called xylitol, can be fatal. Keep the pets out of all the candy. If you take your dog trick-or-treating be sure not to let him near any bowls of candy left out.

A small amount of chocolate, like the chips in a cookie, is normally not a problem. A larger amount, several ounces, can cause illness and death. The active ingredients in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine, so it makes sense that the signs of chocolate toxicity include hyperactivity, tremors, panting, and twitching. Very bad cases can lead to seizures, racing heartbeat (called tachycardia), abdominal pain, and death. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea and decreased appetite- think of a small child who’s eaten too much candy.