My chow chow, Nani, is covered in long, orange fur. I’m not. Children often stop Nani and me on the street to remark on how fluffy she is. No one has ever commented on my fur.

Now, abundant body hair on a human is normally a bad thing, but on below-zero days, I find myself staring enviously at Nani. A quick glance at her thick coat is also a reminder that my canine companion is ready and willing to brave the elements, even if I’m not.

So, on cold winter days, how do I give Nani the exercise she needs without making myself miserable?

The first step is knowing how much exercise your dog requires. Veterinarians agree that every dog has unique needs, but a general rule of thumb is two or three play sessions a day, totaling at least 30 minutes. Some dogs will require more, and some dogs might need less.

Veterinary behaviorist Gary M. Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, dip ECVBM-CA, says, “You have to know your dog—both the individual dog and the breed. Is it a herding dog, or a retriever? Speak to your veterinarian if you don’t know what exercise requirements your dog might have.”

A dog’s age will also play a role in how much physical activity it requires.

Knowing the breed can do more than tell you how much exercise to give a dog. It can also tell you what kind. If you have a retriever, your pup will likely enjoy a game of fetch. If you have a sled-dog breed, you will want to exercise the muscles used for this activity. And if you have a herding breed, your pet will need to run and chase.

Dogs should also have a chance to play with humans and other dogs, along with opportunities for enrichment and mental stimulation. At one point in time, all dogs had to scavenge or hunt for their food, so toys and games that encourage dogs to work for their food can be both mentally and physically satisfying.

Some of these games include using food toys to deliver meals or treats, or having your dog search for food and treats around the house at your command. Here, again, you can look to your pup’s breed—and personal preferences—for clues to favorite activities.

Setting up an exercise and enrichment schedule for your pet can seem complicated, but just remember to include enough exercise, social time and opportunities to go to the bathroom. Once you understand your dog, create a loose schedule to meet those requirements. Pets thrive on consistency and predictability, according to Landsberg, so try and maintain a daily routine that meets both the needs of you and your dog.

When it comes to winter exercise, first figure out what conditions your dog can tolerate (see sidebar).

Now you’re ready to figure out a winter-exercise routine for your dog. If you’ve determined that you have a low-energy dog, then your schedule probably doesn’t require any big adjustments. But for a high-energy dog that isn’t cold-tolerant, or if you’re not, you’ll want to make some changes.

You can spend more time indoors by playing games with your dog and providing more opportunities for brain boosting, again looking to your dog’s breed.

For example, veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, suggests, “You can set up low-cost carpet runners and throw a ball up and down the hallway. The runners will reduce slips. You can also set up an agility course in your garage or basement.” Inexpensive runners can be found at any home goods store, like Target, Sears or Walmart. Additionally, most pet stores have basic agility kits, which you can take down and store when not in use.

If you provide more brain-stimulating activities, you may be able to get away with less physical exercise. Doggie day care centers or dog walkers are other options.

But if it is you who wants to stay indoors and not your dog, you might want to wage a war against the voice in your head that tells you to stick with the familiar. Then, follow the old guidelines about starting a new habit: Post your resolution somewhere you can see it, do it every day, tell people you’re doing it and think about joining a group to stay motivated. You and your dog might end up with a new favorite hobby.

If you and your dog are both hardy and have lots of energy, then there are a ton of fun things you can do outside to meet the dog’s needs. Most dogs love winter hikes, and letting your well-trained dog off leash as you cross-country ski can be a blast. Work with a reputable trainer to determine if your dog will come on command.

Sled-pulling is another great option in the winter if you have a sled dog or a stocky dog. You can search on the term “weight pulling” and the name of your city or state in a search engine to find clubs in your area that offer this activity.

Giving your dog the right amount of exercise in the winter is really not that different than in the warmer months. You will have to make some adjustments, but if you do it right, you and your canine friend will end up loving your new routine.

Article provided by healthypet.com, for more information go here.

It’s the moment a cat owner dreads: being jolted awake in the middle of the night by that awful sound of retching. And while you fumble for the light switch, your favorite feline deposits a hairball on your pillow.

As much as we love them, cats vomit, even hairless breeds. Hairballs are a common culprit. But vomiting can also be a sign of a potentially serious medical problem.

So when should you be concerned?

“If your cat acts normal and vomits once or twice a month, that’s probably okay,” says Eliza Sundahl, DVM, a specialist who has treated cats for more than 30 years.

To help with hairballs, she suggests frequent grooming with a comb—not a brush—to remove your cat’s dead hair.

Since nibbling on houseplants can also cause vomiting, Sundahl says to eliminate the “salad bar” if it becomes a problem. “Check online to make sure the plant your cat chewed on isn’t toxic. Easter lilies are especially dangerous,” she says.

Parasites can also cause vomiting. There are worms your cat can pick up while outside or even inside from eating a bug that has walked through some dog poop. Fortunately, these parasites can be controlled by inexpensive drugs your veterinarian can recommend.

But even if it appears to be “just another hairball” or “he ate too fast,” red flags should go up if your cat vomits frequently and behaves out of the ordinary.

“I call it ‘wilting,’” Sundahl explains. “Your cat vomits and isn’t as active as usual. He may hide under furniture or sit in a chair when he normally is pestering you at the kitchen table. His face may look pinched up, and you can tell he just doesn’t feel well. Loss of appetite and weight loss can also indicate something is wrong.”

Sundahl suggests keeping a calendar to record each vomiting incident. “Jot down if it was a hairball, food, fluid or if there was plant material in it. Then watch his behavior to see if there are any changes,” she says.

“If your cat vomits for a couple of days, then seems okay for a few weeks, but repeats that same cycle month after month, that could indicate a footprint for a more serious health problem.”

If you see these behaviors, call your veterinarian. He or she can perform a physical exam and run a variety of tests to see if there’s an underlying problem causing the vomiting, such as an infection or food allergy, or if your cat has swallowed a foreign object.

“Cats have barbs on their tongues that face backwards. So once they get stuff in their mouth, it’s hard for them to pull it out. So they just keep swallowing it,” Sundahl says.

And some of the most common, cat-enticing objects—like string, ribbons and yarn—can be fatal when ingested. “That’s one of my pet peeves,” Sundahl admits. “You see pictures of cute kittens playing with a ball of yarn. People don’t realize a little piece of yarn can act like a hacksaw inside a kitty’s tummy.”