How to Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holidays

The holidays are a busy and exciting time, and it’s easy to forget how dangerous some of our favorite holiday traditions can be for our pets. This holiday season, take care to protect your precious animals. Avoid an unwelcome trip to your vet by following these simple holiday safety steps.

Keep Human Holiday Treats Away

It’s natural to want your pet to share in the holiday spirit with special treats – but make sure to give them pet treats, not human foods. While it may seem like “just a taste” is safe, it’s simply not worth the risk to your pet’s health.

1.    Chocolate can be toxic for both cats and dogs, and even if your pet has safely ingested this treat before, that’s no guarantee that they won’t have a serious – and even life-threatening – reaction this time.

2.    Candy and bakery items are too rich for your pet’s delicate digestive system. Even more concerning is the fact that a common sweetener found in many of these foods, xylitol, can cause liver failure and even death in dogs.

3.    That delicious turkey (and its skin) may seem like a safe bet, but even in small amounts it has been linked to life-threatening pancreatitis in pets. Don’t risk giving dogs or cats even a bite.

4.    Common holiday ingredients including grapes, raisins and even onions can actually be poisonous to your precious pets. Err on the side of caution and don’t share.

5.    If it’s human food, the leftovers shouldn’t go to the dogs – or the cats. Any table scraps always run a risk of causing pancreatitis and other serious problems for animals.

6.    That delicious yeasty dough? Make sure the only way your pets enjoy it is by smell. Dough made with yeast has been known to cause not only painful gas, but potentially dangerous bloating.

Keep Holiday Decorations Out of Reach

You may feel confident that your pet won’t damage your treasured holiday decorations, but the real danger lies in the potential for them to ingest something that can send you on an emergency trip to the vet – or even end in the devastating loss of your beloved companion.

1.    Holiday plants range in their danger from mildly irritating to life-threatening for pets who ingest them. Holly, poinsettia, mistletoe, amaryllis, balsam, pine, and cedar are among the likely culprits that may cause anything from vomiting to life-threatening reactions.

2.    Live Christmas trees pose a hidden risk for pets. All those tricks for extending your tree’s beauty by adding aspirin, sugar or special additives to the water can pose a serious danger to your pet if they decide to drink some.

3.    Holiday ornaments cause pet injuries far more often than you might think. Whether it’s a cut from a broken treasure or an intestinal blockage from eating tinsel or precious ornaments made by a favorite child, you need to make sure delicate and potentially dangerous decorations are kept out of reach.

If your pet does happen to have a holiday mishap – from eating something they shouldn’t have, to chewing on a power cord and ending up with a burn – a qualified vet can help. Contact us at Bregman Veterinary Group for more information or to schedule an appointment. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Pet

During the holiday season it’s especially tempting to buy presents for those you care about – including your pets. After all, pets are part of your family, too. But it’s important to remember that your pet doesn’t know that it’s a holiday and won’t feel left out if they don’t have a gift of their own. All they really care about is being healthy, safe, and loved by you. So this year, instead of spending money on toys and special treats, consider investing in these gifts that will truly enhance your pet’s quality of life.

Quality Food

Rather than an occasional present of tempting treats, try investing in a high-quality pet food that meets the particular dietary needs of your pet every day. Just as the dietary requirements of humans vary from person to person and with age and individual health concerns, your pet’s dietary requirements change over time. And most pets get excited when they have a new food to tempt them. If you’re uncertain of exactly what the best pet food option is, consider consulting with your veterinarian.

Exercise & Play

Spending time with your pet is the best way to keep them healthy and happy. Taking both dogs and cats for walks can be a great way for you and your companion to get much-needed exercise. And spending time each day engaged in play with your pet helps to strengthen your bond and keep them from becoming bored – and potentially destructive. Whether it’s fetch and tug of war with your dog or teaser and chase games with your cat, you’ll enjoy and benefit from the time together as much as they will.

Preventive Medicine

Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites can be a year-round concern – even if your pet stays indoors. Most people forget that they bring in bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful creatures on their clothes and shoes every day. And if you have an indoor cat but an outdoor dog, you run the risk of having harmful parasites pass from one to the other. Investing in effective preventive medications and making sure to give them to your pet regularly can keep them from getting sick. After all, illness is far more costly than prevention – and makes you as miserable as your pet.

Regular Veterinary Care

The best way to keep your pet healthy is by catching any concerns as early as possible. Regular veterinary appointments allow your vet to make sure your pet is at their best and give them a chance to pick up on potential issues before they become major health concerns. If your pet is overdue for a check-up or vaccination, nothing will make a bigger difference to them than that all-important trip to the vet.

If your pet is due for a check-up, vaccination or you’d like a professional recommendation on the best food for their current age and stage of life, contact Bregman Veterinary Group to schedule your appointment today. Your pet will thank you for it – hopefully for years to come!