Your dogs and cats need more than their own fur coats to stay safe in the winter. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, he needs a wind-proof doghouse with straw to insulate the floor. Salt and other ice-melting chemicals can irritate your pet's paws, and make him sick if he licks it off. Older animals with arthritis may get even more stiff and sore in the cold. Return the love they give you by keeping your dogs and cats safe and warm.