* Coats and booties can help your dog stay warm. In particular, short-haired or elderly dogs benefit from wearing a coat or sweater. Look for coats or sweaters with high collars or a turtleneck that covers the dog from the base of the tail on top to the belly underneath.

* Remember to be very careful with sick or older dogs, since they are more sensitive to cold weather. For any dog sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to do their business.

* Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. You may have to paper train your puppy inside if they appear to be sensitive to the weather.

* Clip the fur between toe pads to reduce the amount of snow that collects between toes.

* To help protect dry, sensitive paws, try coating them with a bit of cooking spray before walks in very cold weather.

* During deep snows, shovel out a potty spot for your dog.

* Upon returning home, wipe snow and ice off your dog’s feet, legs and belly. Little ice cubes can form in the sensitive spaces between the toes and toe-pads. Remove the ice carefully with your fingers since it may cling to the hairs between the paws. Wiping off your dog will remove any salt, antifreeze or other harmful chemicals that she could ingest them when licking her paws.

* Consider keeping a container of warm water and cloths by the door for use after walks. It is good to rinse the paws before you wipe them dry.

* Many de-icing and ice-melting products are toxic. Read the labels of any projects you use, and store these products in tight containers.

* Even brief exposure to sub-zero temperatures can lead to frostbite of the feet, nose or ears. Frost-bitten skin appears red, gray or whitish and may peel off. Prevent frostbite by removing ice and snow from paws and fur right away. If you suspect frostbite, take your pet to a warm place and thaw out frostbitten areas slowly by applying warm, moist towels. Change them frequently. Continue until the affected areas become flushed. Then contact a veterinarian for further care.

* Do not be tempted to let dogs off leash in snow or ice. Canines often lose their scent in cold weather and can become lost. Dogs also can panic in snow storms and run away. The decreased daylight does not help either. More dogs are reported lost during the winter than any other season, so always keep dogs on leash when outside a fully fenced yard and make sure yours always wears proper identification.

Winter pet care:

* Brush your dog vigorously and regularly. The air in most houses becomes dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from dog skin and fur. Brushing improves skin, coat and circulation.

* A thick-coated dog typically needs grooming in cold weather. The fur can get wet and matted, making it an irritant. Clean fur will holds air in a manner similar to layering clothes, thus helping the animal stay warm.

* Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

* Use fatty acid supplements during the winter, ideally starting several weeks before cold weather sets in, to help skin and coat.

* If your dog engages in a lot of outdoor activities, increase his food supply to help keep his coat thick and healthy.

A few options for treating that bee sting:

Your first priority should be to remove the stinger from your pet, as it will be left behind. Even though the bee has gone it is possible that the stinger is still seeping poison into your pet so you want to remove it as soon as possible. Use something with a bit of a sharper edge to scrape the stinger free from the skin.
Your next step is to ensure that your pet is breathing properly. The poison from a bee sting can cause a pet to go into anaphylactic shock and you will know the signs of it if your pet appears weak, is trembling, vomiting, has diarrhea, is breathing quickly, wheezing, has pale gums, fever or actually collapses. Hopefully this situation does not present itself, but if it does time will critical at this point and you will want to get your pet emergency help immediately. During this time make sure you keep your pet warm and help to keep him or her conscious by putting some Karo Syrup or Honey on their gums.

If you pet has not had an allergic reaction there are a number of things that you can do to help reduce the swelling and relieve your pet of its discomfort. You can use an over the counter Benadryl (diphenhydramine) by mouth. Typical dosages: for cats and dogs under 30 pounds, give 10 mg…dogs 30 to 50 pounds, give 25 mg…dogs over 50 pounds, give 50 mg. Use only the plain Benadryl formula. You can also dab the antihistamine directly onto the site of the sting. You will probably need to repeat the dose every six to eight hours.

You can also sooth your pet’s pain by administering a cold pack to the affected area for approximately ten to thirty minutes several times a day. Or another option is to make a Baking Soda Poultice. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to create a thick paste and dab the mixture onto the swelled area. This could be a little bit messy if you are treating an area with thick or long hair so you may want to trim the area a bit beforehand.

If a dog gets stung by bees, wasps and hornets, or bites from mosquitoes or other insects, these can not only be irritating and itchy, but painful as well. Although most stings or bites are not considered dangerous, you should keep an eye on it and if it doesn’t seem to get better in a reasonable time frame, or starts getting worse, please consult your Veterinarian as soon as possible.

Here are some suggestions you can use:

1. Benadryl – Benadryl for swelling and itching from the bee strings, etc.
2. Baking Soda – Make a “paste” using baking soda and a little water, and applied it on the swollen area. It helped soothe the pain and discomfort from the itching.
3. Ammonia – Dabbing the ammonia on the affected area, using a tissue or cotton ball, would help relieve the pain.
4. Milk of magnesia – Try applying a thin coat to the affected area several times a day. This medication contains magnesium hydroxide, which will ease the irritation and itch.
5. Meat tenderizer – meat tenderizer has enzymes that aid in breaking down the poison in insect stings. It also reduces the irritation. Make a paste using a little water and apply immediately to the sting, and keep re-applying as needed.
6. A leaf from the Aloe Vera plant – This is good for minor skin irritation. Break off a leaf and apply a thin coat of its gel to the affected area. This soothes the discomfort and relieves the irritation.
7. Apply a cold compress- If your dog will hold still long enough, try applying a cold compress. This helps with the swelling and eases pain. Try holding it on the affected area as long as you can.
8. Hydrocortisone cream – Hydrocortisone cream is recommended for bites, stings, and hot spots. Hydrocortisone Cream with Aloe is even better because Aloe soothes the pain.
9. Find the culprit – If stung by a bee, try to find where the stinger went in and remove it with tweezers. Getting the stinger out will prevent any added venom to enter the wound.

Canine Parvo Virus is carried by dogs, many of whom show no symptoms themselves. Canine parvo virus (CPV) is highly contagious and characterized by severe vomiting and diarrhea that is often bloody. The virus is shed in the feces of infected dogs, but can be carried on a variety of objects and can also live in the soil. The virus can also survive on clothing, food dishes, dog kennels for six months or more. Your dog should be vaccinated for parvo as a puppy and have yearly booster shots to protect them.

If you think your dog has symptoms of parvo, you need to take them to the vet with a stool sample so that they can be tested.

Certain breeds seem to be more susceptible, including Rottweilers and Dobermans.

There is no cure for parvo, but there is treatment.

Dehydration is a big concern with the vomiting and diarrhea and must be treated. In severe cases, intravenous administration of a balanced electrolyte solution is required. In less severe cases, under the skin fluids are given in addition to medications to stop vomiting and diarrhea. Restricting food during vomiting periods is necessary, but fresh water may be given.

Antibiotics are given to control secondary bacterial infections, because the dog’s immune system is compromised by parvo.

Your dog may be hospitalized for a few days to receive round the clock parvo treatment. When they come home they will be weak and need regular medications/

You will also need to disinfect their environment so that they do not become re-infected. Use half a cup of bleach to a gallon of water and clean all of their dishes, bedding, toys and other items the dog uses.

Your recovering dog should be kept away from other dogs for at least two months, as they are still contagious. Be sure to pick up their feces so that other dogs do not get parvo. Humans and cats cannot catch parvo, so they can be around your dog.

There are also some Natural Parvo Treatment Products available. Herbal remedies come in granular form that you sprinkle on the tongue.

Parvo herbal products are made to strengthen the immune and digestive systems of your dog, two areas that are an essential part of parvo treatment.
Typical ingredients include:
* Arsen alb. (6C) used for digestive upsets including cramping, vomiting and diarrhea. Also good for dogs showing signs of lethargy and irritability.
* Verat. alb. (6C) is a homeopathic remedy for violent vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. This remedy is particularly useful for dogs with fever and dehydration which are both common and dangerous in Parvovirus.
* Belladonna (30C) is used for fast relief from acute fever, pain, inflammation and all illnesses with a sudden and severe onset. Thirst, fever and swollen/tender abdomen are further indications for Belladonna.
* Parvo (30C) is a homeopathic remedy used both prophylactically (preventively) and curatively in the treatment of canine Parvovirus. Homeopathic nosodes are similar to vaccines in that they help to build protection and resistance against specific diseases. They differ to conventional vaccines in that they are usually manufactured from the products of diseases rather than from a culture of the disease agent or virus itself (as in many conventional vaccines.) Research has shown a high rate of success in the treatment and prevention of Canine Parvovirus using this homeopathic ‘vaccine’ in contrast to the conventional vaccination which seldom confers immunity without numerous subsequent booster shots.
* Zingiber officinale (Ginger) Working mainly in the digestive tract, Zingiber boosts digestive fluids and neutralizes acids, making it an effective alternative to conventional anti-nausea medication. Modern research confirms its effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, indigestion and flatulence. Zingiber has strong anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and is also used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
* Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) helps to relieve diarrhea, reduces inflammation of the mucus membranes and soothes restless animals. This herb has been used for centuries in the treatment of digestive disease including colitis, appendicitis and diarrhea. Agrimony is a bitter, mildly astringent, tonic, diuretic herb that may help control bleeding, improve liver and gall bladder functions, treat fever and have anti-inflammatory effects.
A good commercial source to explore is Pet Alive Parvo-K dog Parvovirus treatment.