Despite having fur, domestic pets can suffer from the cold. When it's too cold for you to be outside for extended periods of time, says Toronto-area veterinarian Dr. Morris Samson, it's often too cold for your pet. Here are some useful cold-weather tips.

• If your dog is mostly kept indoors in the winter, don't leave him tied up outside or in your yard for more than a few minutes at a time.

• Keep your walks short but more frequent.

• If your cat goes outdoors, make sure she can easily attract your attention to get back indoors when she needs to.

• Thoroughly clean your pets' feet with a damp towel when they come indoors.

Be sure you remove all ice and snow from their paws and coat and check paws for traces of salt, which can cause dryness and cracking of the pads.

Antifreeze, which can be found on pavement and end up on paws, is a particular danger for pets. Why? Dogs and cats love the smell and taste of it, and it can be fatal, which is another important reason to clean your pet's feet thoroughly.

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