Dog Blog

I love my vet (Huff's Animal Hospital in Tsawwassen, BC). Dr. Maks, Danica, Gill, Angie and so many others always go the extra step and treat my animals and me like gold. Finally a group that really cares. I was there the other day and they were giving out safety tips for Christmas that I thought were great.

While Christmas is a time for celebration, it can be a bit overwhelming for your pet. Professionals, including my vet, warn that Christmas can often mean a difficult time for animals, with most homes littered with potential dangers. It's a busy time and often we forget that we need to keep a closer eye on our four-legged members of the family.

Here are some of the things my vet said:

Holiday plants including ivy, holly, mistletoe, hibiscus, poinsettia, lilies and Christmas greens all have various levels of toxicity so keep these off the ground and away from your pets.

Trees are a great temptation for your dogs to chew on so holiday trees should be well secured to prevent accidents. Also be careful to ensure that your dog does not drink tree water as this can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Holiday ornaments including tinsel, ribbons and bows as well as decorations, should be hung out of your pet's reach as ingestion of these can lead to serious medical emergencies. Replace metal ornament hooks with tightly knotted fabric 1/4 inch ribbons, light weight twine or yarn to slip easily over the tree's branches.

Animals are attracted to bright, moving lights so candles should be kept on high shelves.

Sometimes it’s better to keep the dog in another room, away from crackers party poppers and similar noises.

No table scraps for your dogs. Fatty meats, gravies and poultry skin can cause pancreatitis, gastritis, colitis, and other gastrointestinal problems. Bones put pets at risk of bowel obstruction or perforation and choking.

No chocolate for our four-legged friends as it contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to dogs and cats when eaten. Even small quantities can be harmful.

If you need to bundle up so does your pet. Take shorter walks and put a warm coat on short haired dogs.

Animals can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia even in early winter. Symptoms may not show until a couple days after exposure. Watch for swollen paws and your dog fussing over this area. If this happens you should get to your vet immediately.

Antifreeze tastes good to pets, but it is a deadly poison. Keep an eye out for antifreeze puddles.

The chemicals used to melt snow and ice can be harmful to your dog's paws so make sure you wipe their paws when you come inside.

Finally give serious consideration to not give a dog as a present, the timing of too many people in the house, and too many hazards make this a confusing time for dogs and puppies. Perhaps another time of the year would be more suitable. You can have a lot of fun & the vast majority of dogs will be absolutely ok - just be sensible.

With all that said the most important thing to remember in my opinion is to spend quality time with your dog(s). Most of us have some time off from work and can use this time to be with family. Dogs are our family and the best part for them and you this holiday season should be the time you get to spend together.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at:
K9Kloud9.com & DogQuality.com

Hi Pet owners,

I have a few useful hints to pass along to you for this Winter Season. This time around I have in mind those left outdoors. Please make sure you have a shelter of some kind outside, like a Shed, Doghouse, or Garage, & that it is clean! With fresh water! If the temperatures are dipping to the low mark, it will freeze, & they will not be able to have water.

Another little bit of information that I read from a Veterinarian, that I do not think most know, it scented candles can be bad for our smaller Fur-Kids! They can contain oils that fill the room with wonderful holiday smells! But these oils can be irritating to a small animal’s airway & they can become ill from inhaling these fumes. Well those are my words of caution this time around. Be Safe! & keep your pets safe & have a Happy Season

Diane