1. Anticipate guest arrivals and con fine your dog to prevent escape out the open door, running away or in front of a car.

2. Reduce stress by maintaining your dog's regular feeding and exercise routine and setting aside a quiet room where it can escape from holiday parties. Too much excitement may cause stomach upset or trigger a preexisting illness.

3. Place mystery packages out of reach. Dogs often chew apart packages containing food that could make them sick. "Food is the No. I holiday hazard for dogs," said Amy Marder, VMD, vice president of companion animal services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Greasy, fatty stuff we eat can cause mass havoc on an animal's intestines. Rich gravies and buttery sauces can cause severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea and even life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. An ounce of a 20- to-40-proof alcoholic beverage can put a small dog in a coma.

4. Tell guests to avoid giving treats from , the dinner table. Poultry skin. Fat rich gravies and buttery sauces can cause severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea and even life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. An ounce of 20 to 40 proof alcoholic beverage can put a small do in a coma.

5. STOW chocolate candy, baking chips and especially baker's chocolate out of reach. "Chocolate is the most common toxicity we treat during holidays," Dr. Proulx said. Eating even small amounts causes"vomiting and diarrhea. Large amounts can cause abnormal heart rhythms and nervous system malfunction, even death.

6. Secure garbage in bins with dog-proof lids or behind locked doors. Dogs may chew up holiday throwaways such as meat scraps, bones, paper, foil or plastic flavored with food, -and even gift wrapping and ribbon, which can absorb food flavors. Ingesting these items can result in vomiting, diarrhea or intestinal perforation or obstruction.

7. Read labels on products such as tree water preservatives and artificial snow, and buy only those labeled nontoxic.

8. Put away toys after children open them. Small plastic and rubber balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. Ingested plastic or cloth toys must often be removed surgically.

9. Consider a smaller living or cut tree that can be positioned on a tabletop, making it harder for your dog to reach decorations or knock over the tree. Secure larger trees to a wall to prevent tipping, and use a screen around the base to block access to electrical cords and gifts.

11. Fasten all decorations securely and arrange breakable ornaments toward the top of the tree. Dogs may chew them and suffer cuts in the mouth. Tinsel and angel hair can cause digestive tract obstructions. "Bubbling" lights filled with methlene chloride, can be mildly toxic.

12. Return paper, ribbons and yarn to their storage places after gift wrapping. Bored, anxious or merely curious dogs may choke on them.

13. Place holiday plants out of reach. Poinsettia can cause mild symptoms of drooling, oral pain or vomiting. Mistletoe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, shock and even death from cardiovascular collapse. Vacuum often. Eating the needles of both real and artificial trees can cause intestinal blockage.

14. Display candles on high shelves, and use fireplace screens to avoid singed whiskers and painful burns.

Outdoor Housing For the times when your Curly can't be inside with you

Although dogs do maintain a normal body temperature that's a couple degrees higher than humans', we still have to give them some help to stay warm in cold weather.

Start with a small, cozy, insulated dog house. Bigger is not better! The house needs to be small to trap and hold your dog's body heat which will help keep him warm through the night. It should be just large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down in comfortably. The house can be homemade but new insulated plastic models available today are inexpensive and designed especially for comfort in cold weather.

Put the house in a sheltered location out of the wind. Take advantage of the sun's warmth by putting it on the east or south side of your home. Placing it on a low platform to keep it off the frozen ground will help, too. The house should have a door or heavy flap over the entrance to keep out drafts.

Lectro Kennel Bed Heating Pad
* Spring-wrapped cord to protect from teeth and claws
* Washable surface
* High impact ABS plastic construction

Ideal for use in doghouses, kennel, garage, basement or anywhere extra warmth is desired. Internal thermostat keeps temperature at 102° F. Optional Temperature Control Gauge has a range of 100° to 104° F. gives you a choice of temperatures. Combined with optional Fleece Cover, the pad is perfect for use in whelping situations. The open-mesh cover is designed to allow heat to radiate properly. It is especially helpful for geriatric or arthritic pets. Three sizes to fit any pet.

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Outdoor Water Dishes

Dogs need fresh water available to them all day especially in winter when their bodies are vulnerable to dehydration. A twice daily watering isn't enough. Metal objects conduct and lose heat quickly so switching to a heavy plastic dish will help. So will your choice of color, container size and location -- dark colors absorb heat from the sun and a deeper dish will freeze less quickly than a wide, shallow one. In areas where sub-freezing temperatures are common, a more efficient solution is an electric bucket heater or birdbath de-icer.

Prevent water from freezing in even the most frigid conditions with these electrically heated outdoor waterers. Tip-proof bowl in two sizes! Flat-Back 5-gallon bucket sits against wall or hangs with handle. 6 foot Chew-Guard cords plug into any 120v outlet. Durable, easy-to-clean plastic.

The holiday season is full of dangers for Phydeaux. House plants, chemical salts used on icy walks, antifreeze, and chocolate candy all pose hazards to man's best friend.

Many popular house plants have poisonous leaves, stems, or berries, including dieffenbachia, holly, philodendron, and poinsettia and should be kept out of the reach of pets.

Tinsel or metallic icicles can cause bowel obstruction or intestinal strangulation if eaten by your curly.

Halite, the chemical salt that melts ice on sidewalks, is also poisonous. If Rover walks on treated sidewalks, wipe his feet with a damp cloth when returning home. Sand makes a good alternative to chemical salt; it doesn't melt the ice, but it does improve traction. Kitty litter is OK in a pinch, but when wet, it clumps and loses its gritty texture.

Anti-freeze is a definite hazard. Highly toxic, it has a sweet taste that appeals to dogs and cats and can be deadly in doses as small as a teaspoon for a large dog. Spilled anti-freeze should be flushed from driveways to avoid even tiny puddles that pets could lick.

When winter approaches, many people get their vehicles prepared by changing the antifreeze, but many may not realize now dangerous contact with antifreeze can be for your pet. Antifreeze poisoning is one of the most common and deadly toxicity seen in dog patients. The toxic ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, ingestion of less than 2 ounces is potentially fatal for a 25 pound dog. Unfortunately, dogs are attracted to antifreeze spills by its sweet smell and taste.

When changing the coolant in your vehicle, clean up all antifreeze spills immediately. Be sure the antifreeze container is securely closed and out of reach. Address a leaking radiator immediately, before it causes the tragic death of a family pet. Sierra is a relatively non-toxic antifreeze that contains propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Consider using this type of antifreeze if your pets have access to the areas where vehicles are stored.

Holiday treats

Many dogs have a sweet tooth, but candy can be deadly, so make sure those Halloween candy bars and holiday boxes of chocolate are put out of Fido's reach.

Chocolate contains theobromine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, that can cause nerve damage and even death in dogs. Different types of chocolate can have varying amounts of theobromine, so if Macho eats a bag of M & Ms or a chocolate cupcake, he may not be affected, but a dish of dark chocolate candies may do him in.

Hypothermia and frostbite

Hypothermia is a lowering of the core body temperature well below the dog's normal 101.5-102.5 normal rectal temperature. Substantial lowering of the temperature interferes with the metabolic functions of the body and affects the internal organs. A dog's first reaction to the lowering of his temperature is to shiver. Shivering increases muscle activity, which in turn increase heat production. At the same time, his blood circulation shifts away from his legs and feet to his internal organs.

Mild hypothermia causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, but if the time and severity of heat loss continues, heart rate and blood pressure decline and cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest can occur. Severe hypothermia leads to respiratory depression, lethargy, lack of coordination, paralysis, and collapse.

Treatment for hypothermia involves rapid warming of the body. In mild cases, heating pads, hot water bottles, or a warm water bath will do the trick, but severe cases require introducing warmed fluids internally via intravenous flow, dialysis, or enema. Veterinarians may also use corticosteroids and monitor the dog for heart arrhythmias and pneumonia and check for frostbite.

Prolonged exposure to the cold can also cause frostbite — the death of tissue in the extremities. Dog toes, tails, ear tips, and scrotum are the most common frostbite areas. Frostbitten tissue appears pale and is cold to the touch. It should be rewarmed slowly and given time to heal. It may turn red and swollen and be very painful as it heals. If it does not heal in three or four days, amputation of the dead tissue should be done to avoid gangrene or mummification of the area.

Obviously, prevention is worth more than a pound of cure with hypothermia and frostbite.

Save My Skin!

When the bite of winter kicks in, many animals get dry skin. A few simple steps can help prevent and treat this condition: bathe as seldom as possible. Try using a moisturizing shampoo made for pets (they have a different pH from humans, so don't even think about it!). Finally, eat right: quality food improves nutrition and promotes shiny, healthy fur. You may want to consult with your veterinarian about adding vitamins and fatty acids to Fido's food.

Other considerations for your Curly and cold weather. Check your dogs foot pads when he comes in. Ice balls may form between the toes, causing pain when he walks. You may see your curly chewing on his or her feet when they are outside in the snow. If you have walked your curly on sidewalks treated with salt or other ice melting chemicals, clean your curlies feet off before they have a chance to lick at them.

While your curly will need a good high quality food, as the cold makes more demands on the body nutritionally, also consider the exercise your curly is getting. People tend to hibernate in the winter, and forget that no matter what the weather, your curly still needs exercise. Try to find an outside sport that you both can safely share in the winter.

Wintertime is also a good time to take an Obedience class with your curly. It will do you both good.

If your throwing a large Christmas or New years bash, think of your dog. How will he respond to the extra people? How will the people respond to a dog underfoot? This may be a good time to move the crate into a quite room for your dog. (You did Crate train your curly didn't you!)