As the weather gets colder it can be quite a shock to the system, necessitating some precautions. Please read on for some tips to help make sure that you and your companion animals stay healthy and comfortable during the winter months.

A Fun Winter for Companion Animals

Helping Birds Through Winter

Heart-warming Winter Recipes

A Fun Winter for Companion Animals

• Make sure all dogs that spend time outdoors have adequate shelter from wind, moisture and cold, and something to snuggle in. Don’t try to heat your companion’s area with a space heater, which can be dangerous and cause fires or burn the animal.
• Keep companion cats inside in winter. They can freeze, get lost, injured, or killed.
• When it’s cold out, cats sometimes choose to sleep under the hoods of cars where it is warmer. Before starting your car, bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds to give cats a chance to escape.
• Bring ALL animals indoors when the temperatures drop!
• If you see an animal left out in the cold, please speak to its owner, or notify your local police or animal welfare agency! It can be difficult, but don't be accusatory when you speak to neglectful owners. It is best to get your point across conversationally and in a friendly manner, if you can.
• If your companions spend time outdoors, ask your vet about feeding them a bit extra. All animals (including humans) burn more calories in the cold to keep warm and because winter exercise is more strenuous. The more your companion is outside, the more extra fuel he'll need.
• Be sure your pet has plenty of fresh water to drink and make sure water is never frozen in outdoor bowls. Animals lose moisture through breathing, and the effects of cold temperatures are magnified by dehydration.
• Animal skin can dry out in winter, just as human skin does. This causes coats to lose insulating ability. If you notice flaking skin or a lusterless coat, ask your vet about adding some vegetable oil to your companion’s food.
• If your companion allows it, dress her in animal sweaters and boots that fit her well, but leave plenty of freedom of movement for walking, running, playing, and relieving herself. This doesn’t mean she should stay outside longer, though. If your companion is shivering or limping, get her into the house right away!
• When the snow starts piling up, shovel paths and a bathroom area in your yard. Don’t leave animals that could get stuck in snow unattended.
• Salt and road chemicals can burn his pads and upset his digestive tract when licked off paws so clean off your companion’s feet, legs, and belly when you get home.
• Never let your companion dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs frequently lose their scent in winter conditions and can easily get confused about where they are. More dogs get lost in winter than any other season, so make sure your companion always wears ID tags.
• Don't use salt or chemicals in dog pens or play areas!
• Keep anti-freeze completely away from your companions. It smells good and tastes sweet so many animals will lick it if it’s left out. Be very careful, even a teaspoonful can be enough to kill an animal. Symptoms include apearing "drunk," lack of coordination, vomiting, depression, and increased water intake and urination. If you think your companion may have come into contact with anti-freeze call your vet immediately.
• If your companion has arthritis, the cold, damp weather will aggravate it. If she is having trouble getting up or laying down, navigating the stairs, or has started to snap or cry when picked up, visit the veterinarian to find possible natural and medicinal treatments.

Don’t stop exercising with your companions just because it’s cold. However, you should pay attention for signs of exhaustion and shorten outdoor exercise times. When the weather is cold, don’t go too far from home on walks.

Helping birds through winter

If you choose to continue leaving seeds and suet out for birds throughout fall and into the winter, you will find that some birds, such as blue jays, chickadees, and mourning doves, will stay behind rather than migrate. If you choose to feed birds in winter it is very important to be consistent. Food is hard to find, and birds do not store food for the winter months like squirrels, beavers and other animals do. If you become a food source don’t let them down!

Heart-warming Winter Recipes

In winter, enjoying a hot meal is especially comforting, but remember that comfort was not the norm for any animal you decide to eat. Eat kindly! These recipes will help you get off to a good start.

Crispy potatoes

6 large potatoes, diced
1 small glass of unsweetened soy milk
Salt, pepper, nutmeg
2 tsp. cornstarch, dissolved in ¼ cup unsweetened soy milk
Breadcrumbs
Oil

Directions

Boil the potatoes for 20 minutes in salted water. Mash them with the soy milk to make a smooth but dense paste.
Prepare two plates; put the cornstarch/soy milk mix on one and breadcrumbs on the other. Use your hands to form sticks with the potato mixture. Roll the sticks first in the soy milk and then in the crumbs before frying them in the oil for a few minutes. You can make lots and freeze them for later.

Fresh Beer Rolls

3 cups flour
1 ¾ tsp. yeast
1 tsp. salt
50 ml peanut oil
blonde beer (about 75ml)

Directions

Put the flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl. Mix the oil into the flour then little by little mix in the beer, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about an hour. Divide the dough into balls, about 4 cm in diameter and bake them in a preheated 400˚F oven for 12 minutes.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 cauliflower, cut into florets
1 Tbsp. margarine
1 vegetable bouillon cube
Salt and pepper
Water
2 cups unsweetened soy milk

Directions

Sauté the onion in the margarine, add the florets of cauliflower and cover ¾ of the way with water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the bouillon cube and cook for 30 minutes. Pour in the soy milk and stir right before serving.

Seitan Chorizo

Seitan:
1 cup gluten powder
6 Tbsp. Potato starch
1 tsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. herbs of Provence
1 tsp. sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp. capers
1 tsp. crushed black cumin
1 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp. peppered oil
2 Tbsp. soya sauce
2 Tbsp. Tomato paste
Water

For the stock:
2 litres of vegetable stock
100 ml soya sauce
300 ml dry white wine
50 ml vinegar

Directions

To make the seitan, put all the dry ingredients in a salad bowl. Add the wet ingredients little by little, also adding enough water to make a smooth and elastic mass. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes.

For the stock, add the wine, soya sauce, and vinegar to the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil.

Cut the mass of seitan in two, form two sausages about 4cm in diametre and roll them in a piece of cloth. String the sausages at the ends and at every 3 cm.

Submerge the sausages in the stock and cook for one and a half hours. Let them cool in the stock.

This chorizo will keep for a week in its stock in the fridge. It also freezes well.

Chick Pea and Rice Dinner

Makes 2 portions

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, skinned, crushed and chopped
½ branch celery, diced
1 green pepper, diced
3 tomatoes, skinned and diced
½ tsp. basil
¼ tsp thyme
1 Tbsp. Fresh parsley, chopped
1 19oz. Can chick peas, drained
4 portions cooked rice
Salt and pepper

Directions

Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and celery. Cook 5 minutes on low heat. Add the green pepper, tomatoes, and herbs. Add salt and pepper and cook on medium heat 12 minutes. Stir in the chick peas and leave to simmer 4 minutes. Serve over rice.

Split pea soup

1 ½ cups split peas
2 litres vegetable stock
1 onion, chopped
1 pear, cut in chunks
1 small cucumber, cut in pieces
salt and pepper
Peanut oil

Directions

Sauté the onion, the pear, and the cucumber in the oil. Add the peas and stock, and then the seasoning. Bring to a boil then leave to simmer half an hour. Serve with croutons.

Mushroom Stew

1 lb. mushrooms, cut in quarters
1 onion, chopped
¼ tsp. caraway seeds
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
300ml vegetable stock
185ml blonde beer
3 tsp. soy cream
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
salt and pepper
1 Tbsp. peanut oil

Directions

Heat the oil in a wok. Sauté the onion, caraway, and cayenne in the oil for about 10 minutes, the mushrooms for only a few seconds. With a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables and set them side. Pour the beer and stock into the wok. Bring it to a boil and reduce it by a third at least. Season with salt and pepper then put the onions and mushrooms back in. Mix the cornstarch with the soy cream and, at the last minute, use it to thicken the sauce. Serve with fresh beer rolls.