"Winterizing Your Pet 2009"

Online, October 22, 2009 (Newswire.com) - 1. Looking Your Best this Winter: Grooming Tips
Winter weather poses numerous opportunities for fun for our pets, but it also presents many challenges: dry skin and coats, dirty and unsafe paw conditions, uncomfortable cold water baths, and the need for conditioning sprays for effective brushing and coat manageability. John Paul Pet offers the first comprehensive, solution-based pet care line to address all of your pets grooming needs. John Paul Pet's properly pH-balanced shampoos will keep your pet's coat and skin moisturized and manageable even when the indoor air is hot and dehydrating. A great winter solution for cold and snowy climates is John Paul Pet's Waterless Foam Shampoo; this allows you to keep your pet clean and fresh without a problematic rinse. (Visit www.johnpaulpet.com for more information.)

2. Fancy Feet: The Importance of Proper Foot Care
Dogs and cats feet are susceptible to ice balls, damaging de-icing solutions, salt and other issues that can dry out their pads and cause them discomfort. Using "pet booties" in addition to a moisturizing paw wipe, such as John Paul Pet's, lanolin enriched, Full Body & Paw Wipes will keep your pet's paws clean and comfy all winter long.

3. Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Food & Water
During winter it is beneficial for your pet to slightly increase their food intake to help them generate body heat in cold and snowy climates. Foods that we humans tend to indulge in during the winter months can be dangerous for your pet; alcohol, candy, chocolate, and fish bones are common holiday hazards. Avoid these dangers by keeping your pet on its usual diet. Make sure to use John Paul Pet Tooth & Gum Wipes on your pet daily to help remove odor and build up on teeth and to maintain a clean, fresh smile. Another food related hazard is frozen drinking water. Hydration is crucial to your pet, so maintaining a water source that is both accessible and drinkable is critical.

4. Shelter Me: Housing
Provide safe and comfortable housing options for your pet. Remember outdoor dogs must have dog houses in extreme weather. A dog house should be large enough for your dog to move around and stand up, but small enough to keep warmth in the interior of the house. Some indoor animals need to go outside during the winter months so make sure to keep cats, kittens and all small pets out of dangerous areas like your warm and inviting car or garage by letting them know that you are there by knocking on the hood or starting the engine without moving the car. Remember to shelter your pet's coat and skin from the cold with shampoos, conditioning sprays and pet wipes from John Paul Pet to keep them clean, fresh and happy.

5. Deadly Beauty: Holiday Decor that is Safe for your Pet
The holiday season allows us to brighten and cheer up our homes with beautiful plants and cheery decor. It is important to remember that both plants and holiday decorations can be dangerous for your pet. Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe, philodendron, and dieffenbachia are toxic to your pet (see the ASPCA's poisonous plant list for a more detailed list at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/). So please make sure to keep them out of your pet's reach. Tinsel, candles, ribbons and wrapping adornments are lovely to look at but they can present serious issues for your pet if ingested; so please use these items with caution around your animals. John Paul Pet wants your pet to be beautiful and safe this winter.

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