December 2011—Vol. 9

So much for which to be Thankful!

Take the lead on a safe and happy holiday season.

The holidays can present many new sights and smells that capture your pet’s attention. From rich foods, to poinsettias, toys and tree water, it’s no surprise some of the season’s accompaniments may not be safe for your pet. Here are some considerations from our friends at the ASPCA that will likely serve as a reminder in some cases and news in others.

Toy Joy

Looking to stuff your pet’s stockings? Choose gifts that are safe.
Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallowing the pieces, which can then become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible.
Long, stringy things are a feline’s dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer—and tons of play sessions together. Stop in to see our holiday toy selection

Forget the Mistletoe & Holly

Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies, can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.

Leave the Leftovers

Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won’t lead to costly medical bills.

That Holiday Glow

Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!
Wired Up Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws’ reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth.

A Room of Their Own

Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

“You want to make sure that your cats have a very safe retreat, maybe put them in another room because you don’t want them to inadvertently escape when someone opens the door. If your guests want to see the cats, they can visit them in the room where they’re safely staying while the festivities proceed.

Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe are poisonous. If any pieces fall on the floor, pick them up immediately before your pet can ingest them.

Your Christmas tree should be very sturdy and perhaps secured with wire or sturdy string, so if the cat jumps on it the tree won’t come down.

Easy as Pie!

Follow these tips to a healthy, happy, holiday celebration for Bowser

It may be tempting to include the furry family members in the festivities by sharing a taste of the yummy specialties, but keeping the human food on the table and out of your pets bowl, is a good idea. Here are some thoughts on making sure a merry time is had by all.

Discourage Begging

On the day of holiday meals, feeding your pet at his regularly scheduled dinner hour is best. Lots of new guests and heightened activity in the house may be too much of a distraction for your pet to concentrate on his kibble. Once your pooch is fed, put him outside for some playtime. Consider setting a room aside or a space such as a dog crate where your pet can relax and get away from the noise of the holiday meal.

No Doggie Bags

Though well intentioned, people food is usually a bad idea. Some foods to stay away from include anything with mayonnaise, gravy and pumpkin pie. These tasty treats may be tempting to your pet’s palate, but these traditional holiday foods are especially high in fat. High fat foods can also cause pancreatitis, a potentially life threatening condition that causes the pancreas to become inflamed. Symptoms of pancreatitis include vomiting, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, and diarrhea.

Keep Trash Secure

If you have succeeded in keeping bowser well behaved and healthy throughout the day, make sure he does not find his way into the holiday trash. Dogs can gorge on leftovers; it’s all fair game to them. Trash can be especially dangerous because of the fatty leftovers, but even moreover, because of bones. Turkey bones are too brittle for your pet and splinter just as badly as chicken bones. Sharp bones can obstruct the digestive track at any point from an airway passage to the stomach to intestines.

If you really want to give your pets something they can be thankful for on this special day, “take ‘em on an extra long walk. All they really want this holiday season, is your time!

Health Watch—Tis the season!

Does your dog have a cold?

At it’s simplest, a cold is an upper respiratory infection, also known as Kennel Cough, and this airborne virus has over 250 strains. Here are some of the common symptoms:

• * Nasal congestion and discharge
  * A little difficulty breathing through the nose
  * Occasional coughing
  * Mild fever
  * Runny eyes
  * Sneezing
  * General lethargy
  * Loss of appetite

While these symptoms can make your dog relatively uncomfortable, they’re not severe. Most dogs will get over a simple cold within about a week without any treatment as long as they are kept warm and hydrated. Whether you’re dealing with dogs or people, there’s still no cure for the common cold. Here however, are a few ways to make your dog feel more comfortable during the duration of his or her cold.

• * Keep your dog warm and dry.
  * Limit time spent outside during cold weather. Cold air tends to make the bronchial tubes constrict; this makes it more difficult for your dog to breathe.
  * Provide extra nutrition like boiled chicken and brown rice to coax your dog to eat. This will keep his or her strength up and provide immune system support.
  * Run a cool mist vaporizer near your dog’s sleeping area to help keep the bronchial tubes moistened.
  * Encourage your dog to drink liquids, even if you have to tempt your pet with low sodium chicken broth. This will help keep nasal secretions thin and less likely to clog your dog’s nose.

Once you’ve determined that your dog may have a cold, you must decide whether or not it’s worth a trip to the vet. Although some respiratory infections do get better without medical intervention, as a layperson, it’s difficult to judge just how severe your dog’s illness really is.
The general rule of thumb is that a vet should examine both puppies and senior dogs any time they have cold-like symptoms. This is because their immune systems are usually weaker than those of healthy adult pets, and a cold is more likely to progress into pneumonia. With that said, many owners prefer to err on the side of caution and take all sick dogs to the vet for a professional opinion.

• * The symptoms become more intense.
  * The dog develops a rattle in its chest.
  * The dog is in obvious discomfort.
  * The dog stops drinking liquid.

In many cases, a vet will prescribe an antibiotic to treat the illness; these medications can destroy invading, opportunistic bacteria that make a dog even sicker while its immune system is fighting off the original virus. Or, it could just be allergies.

Keep in mind that a cold is seldom as simple as it seems. Take the condition seriously and provide your pet with veterinary care if symptoms intensify and/or you believe it’s

warranted. Doing so can keep your dog’s cold symptoms from developing into more serious conditions such as respiratory infection.

Do not board your pet or take it to a dog park/dog beach while it is ill. Kennel Cough is an airborne virus and highly contagious.

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