<![CDATA[LYONS VETERINARY CLINIC - About Dogs by LVC]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 14:38:13 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Making Winter Time into Dog & Me Time]]>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 23:35:52 GMThttps://www.lyonsvetclinic.com/about-dogs-by-lvc/making-winter-time-into-dog-me-timeWinter time is here, and with it, we get less light during our daytime as sunset starts as soon as 5:00 pm, but how can we make these changes work for our dog and puppy schedules?

1. Microchip: yes your dog as many dogs are capable of escaping, some of them are even called "escape artists", now let's add the dark hours to the equation. While training should be your priority number one, you can also make it easy for them to come home by getting them a microchip no larger than a grain of rice to be inserted under the loose skin between your dog’s shoulder blades. The chip holds your pet’s unique ID number when scanned by a vet or shelter. This method has helped multiple clients reunite with their pets after they got lost. 
2. Night time pet supplies and toys (make your pet a master of the dark): Today's pet market is immense, which means that most likely you will be able to find anything to match your family's preference. What we recommend: reflective LED dog collars, collar lights, led leashes, balls that glow in the dark, reflective vests,... take your pick. Not only will you be able to keep track of your pet at night, but other people and cars will be able to spot them as well. What a relief!
3. Hydration Let's keep this simple COLORADO IS DRY, and yep... WINTER MAKES IT WORSE! ​Winter is usually very dry, so your dog is at a greater risk of dehydration. Make sure you always keep out a water bowl during the winter so they can stay hydrated. If you keep your dog outside during the cold months, make sure their water bowl doesn’t freeze over.
4. Watch The Treats: During the winter months, we all tend to overindulge. With all of the holiday meals, you may be tempted to also feed your dog extra treats (*read our "CAN  MY  DOG  EAT  THAT?" blog post or contact your veterinarian for reference). Please make sure that through the winter holidays you keep your dog on their normal feeding routine.
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5. Go Natural Your pets will also benefit from natural supplements at this time of year. Mix it up with acupuncture, laser therapy, hydrotherapy or massages... spoil them... we all know they deserve it
6. Cold Check Are they wearing something wet? - REMOVE IT / If your pet is acting up (whining, shivering, slows down or stops moving, they could be showing signs of hypothermia, get them INSIDE & CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY
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7. Paws and Skin Check  Ice between their paws has to be checked or avoided with dog boots. Please remove any wet jackets or dog clothes / accessories and make sure their skin looks normal. 
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8. HAVE FUN! Time with our dogs is priceless, enjoy winter together, look at the stars, breathe the cold air, let them play in the snow, to make them happy makes us happier. 
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