Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Cold Weather Pet Hazards

1. Honk for safety's sake
When it's cold, cats love to sit under the engine or even under the hood of your warm vehicle's motor. Before turning on your ignition, look under your car, tap on the hood, or honk the horn to roust any sleeping kitties.

2. Put on a sweater
Dogs and cats are equipped with fur coats,but they vary in thickness and ability to keep them warm. Some animals may never develop an adequate winter coat and may require a winter sweater. Check your furry friend so they are not shivering! 

3. Be careful with chemicals
Cats and dogs like the sweet taste of antifreeze (ethylene glycol), so clean up spills promptly. "Even a teaspoon is potentially lethal," says R. J. Krapfl, DVM, an Omaha veterinarian and spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Be sure to wash pet's paws after walking outside along sidewalks and roadways, as most winter salt is damaging to their paws.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Live Christmas Tree Tips


The perfect Christmas tree adds just the right touch to your holiday. Here are some tips to help you choose your tree and make it last through the holidays


1. The tree should have a strong, fresh pine smell and nice deep color.

2. Bend a small branch to see if snaps, if it does the tree is dry and you should pick another tree out with bendable branches.

3. You should let the tree settle for a couple of days before you bring it into the house. Make a small cut across the trunk of the tree on a diagonal to help the tree absorb water and dissolve the sap. Then put it in a bucket of warm water. If you add a half  a cup of sugar or an aspirin or two to the water it will help keep the tree fresh.

4. When you're ready to bring it inside, make a fresh cut straight across the trunk, and
    drill a hole as far as you can into the trunk. Stuff the hole with some absorbent
    material like old pieces of cotton to help pull water up and into the tree.

5. If you find yourself with a bunch of pine pitch on your hands during all of this,
    rub them with some vegetable oil. The mess will come right off!