Fall is here and it is starting to cool off here in the Lowcountry. This is a great time for your pets to start exercising again. Many pets gain weight in the summer because it is simply too hot for them to exercise outside with their owners. But as I sit here with my windows open to the cool breeze for the first time since last spring, all I can think about is finishing this up so I can take Makeba on a long walk.
But, there are some things to remember before you head out with your pet. Just like us, dogs get out of shape. You must slowly work them back up to their prior level of fitness. You may have been running on the treadmill during the summer and are ready for a 6-miler. But, don’t subject your out-of-shape pet to this. Start him/her out with a 10 minute walk or jog for a few days. Then try 15 minutes and add five minutes every two or three days until you are up to the longer distances.
The beach is a great place for your dog to start getting exercise again, but be sure to bring plenty of fresh water.  Most dogs will try to drink salt water if they get thirsty and this can cause a nasty case of vomiting and diarrhea. Folly Beach allows dogs (always on leash) during the day again. You have to wait until Oct. 31st for Sullivan’s Island and you need a license from town hall if you want to take your dog there. Isle of Palms welcomes dogs everyday and they can even be off-leash between 5-8 a.m.
County Parks are also a great place to exercise your dog. Some of them even have an area where you can take your dog off its leash if he or she is trained to follow commands. I do recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about proper vaccination and deworming programs if you are going to let your dog swim in the marshy waters in the county parks. These waters do have lots of dogs contaminating them and some even have alligators to watch out for.
And, as it gets even chillier, we must think about ways to keep pets warm. If your pet is one who easily gets chilled, be sure to pick up a little coat or sweater. If you are trying to save on your heating bills, it is fine to keep your heat setting as low as 55 for a healthy pet. If you have elderly or sickly pets you may need to keep the heat turned up or provide a heated bed for those creaky joints. You can find pet-safe heating elements at most pet stores. Or try Snuggle Safe, which is a reusable heating element that you put in the microwave to charge and then slip it into your pet’s bedding. The manufacturer says it stays warm for up to 12 hours.
If your dog lives outdoors, be sure to get that fancy dog house built by the end of this month. You can provide pet-safe heating elements inside along with plenty of warm bedding. Remember, our dogs are used to some very hot temperatures, so when it suddenly drops below freezing they can be mighty miserable if they don’t have a warm house to retreat to. Be sure to bring elderly cats indoors as it cools off. Their joints might stiffen up on the damp chilly air and make it hard for them to get home after an evening of frolicking in the yard.
So, get outside with your pets this time of year and prepare to keep them warm as the temperatures really get chilly. You won't regret this quality time with your favorite furry friend.
 
Dr. Katherine A. Saenger, DVM, owns Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel (www.beesferry.com) and is a former board member of the Charleston Animal Society (formerly John Ancrum SPCA.) If you have questions about pet behavior or health, or suggestions for column topics, e-mail her at vetsaenger@bellsouth.net, and watch the column in coming weeks for her responses.