Tips for taking care of your pet in winter

Winter’s falling temperatures affect our pets the same way they affect us. A good rule of thumb: if it is too cold outdoors for us without adequate clothing, it’s also too cold for pets to be outdoors without proper shelter. A quick trip outside to take care of business or going for a brisk walk with you is fine, but leaving a pet in a cold, wet environment for more than a few minutes can definitely be harmful to their health.

Ringing in the holidays with your pet
With a little extra care and consideration, the holiday season can be enjoyable for you, your friends and family and safe for your pets.

It's that wonderful time of year again. The holiday season is filled with candles, lights, snow-covered trees, presents, cookies and treats. Family and friends will gather to enjoy the many fruits of the season. Unfortunately, with so much celebrating taking up our time, we run the risk of neglecting our pets. So make a mental note to remember the basic needs of your four-legged family members. Most of all, try to maintain a feeding, walking and playtime schedule that’s as close to your pet’s normal routine as possible.

Although you may want to include your pets in the festivities, remember, even though we enjoy cookies, chocolate and eggnog, none of those treats are healthy for your cat or dog, as their digestive systems are not adapted for sweets or rich foods. Also, chocolate contains a substance called theobromine that can be toxic to pets. The more concentrated the chocolate, such as unsweetened and baker’s chocolate, the higher the level of theobromine.

If you place a Christmas tree in your home, be aware that small ornaments can be swallowed, and glass ones may break and injure your pet. A simple tail wag could bring down several decorations on low branches, so place small or glass ornaments safely near the top of the tree. Be careful with stringed popcorn and cranberries as well. Your pet may see your lovely decorations as a tasty snack!

Both dogs and cats love to play with gift wrapping and decorations, too. If swallowed, items such as ribbon and tinsel can cause intestinal (bowel) blockage and even cause severe damage to these internal organs, which would require immediate hospitalization and surgery.

Certain holiday plants, while pretty to look at, can be dangerous to your pet. Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe may make your dog or cat sick if he chews on the leaves, flowers or berries. Make sure to place these items out of reach.

Holiday parties are a wonderful way to spend time with friends and to relax and enjoy the season. However, not every guest, especially very young children, may be familiar with dogs and cats and their habits. Guests may inadvertently step on your dog's tail if he is underfoot, and young children may unintentionally tease your cat as well.

If you have a party, you may want to consider confining your pet securely in one area of the house. You could place your pet in a bedroom, for example, and post a sign on the door asking guests not to enter that room. Leave a radio or TV and lights on for company.

And while we may enjoy a bit of holiday cheer, no guest should ever give a pet alcohol.

IMPORTANT:  If you know your pet has consumed ANY chocolate products or other dangerous items, call our office immediately. The more quickly you act, the more we can do to help your pet. Do not wait for your pet to become ill or show signs of chocolate poisoning.

You can also contact the National Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at 1-900-443-0000 OR 1-888-426-4435. There will be a charge for this service!