As temperatures begin to drop and winter chill begins to set in, there are several things you can do to keep your pets warm and healthy. Consider these suggestions:

Place a pet's bed where it is least drafty in your home and, particularly for older pets, elevate your pet's bed slightly to avoid potential chill from the floor.

Pets often seek out warm spots, so it's especially important to protect them from getting burned or causing a fire.
• Place a fire screen around fireplaces and wood stoves.
• Be careful using space heaters as your pet may chew the cord or knock over the unit.

Metal water dishes kept outside can freeze—preventing your pet from staying hydrated and leading a pet to get his tongue stuck.

Put a sweater on shorthaired dogs before heading out in the cold for a walk.

Snow may be a lot of fun to play in…but it can cause cracks and cuts on feet and even lead to frostbite. So regularly inspected your dogs' paws.

Following a walk, thoroughly wipe your pet's paws, mouth and stomach to clean off road salt, which can burn their skin.

If your dog lives outdoors, provide well-insulated shelter (free from drafts) and thick, clean bedding.

Riding in the bed of a truck is never a good idea because of the danger posed by potential accidents. During the winter, there is an additional risk: frostbite.