Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and the Very Best to You in the Coming New Year
The holidays are here. Dr. Porter and staff of Bullard-Marks Veterinary Hospital and Grooming would like to wish everyone happy holidays. Thank you to all of our valued patients and clients for your patronage, confidence and trust. Your warmth and friendliness has made helping you a great pleasure.
Keep the Holidays Happy
Grey tabby kitten playing with ornament in Christmas tree
With all the family and friends to see, presents to wrap, trees to trim, houses to decorate, and special holiday events to attend, let’s take a few minutes to think about the safety and well being of our family dogs and cats so they can safely have fun and enjoy the holiday with us.
The Christmas tree all decked out with lights, ornaments, tinsel, strands of popcorn and bows can be fun for kitten, puppies, cats and dogs to play with and climb causing the tree to fall on them. The ornaments, tinsel,popcorn, and bows can be used as toys to play with or eat. If eaten, the four legged family members, can vomit or end up with an intestinal obstruction, which can upset your holiday plans, leading to a trip to your veterinarian or the emergency clinic. Edible tree decorations, popcorn or cranberry are exciting and your pet may think tugging at the popcorn strands is great fun resulting in the Christmas tree falling. Consider protecting your decorated tree by fencing it off with an exercise pen, putting the tree on a table to protect it from small puppies, or closing the door to the room where your Christmas tree is when you are not watching the dogs or cats. Electrical cords can be interesting to explore, chewing on or using then as a tug toy which can result in electrical burns in your dog’s or cat’s mouth or electrocution.
Holiday cookies, candy and Christmas dinner (ham, turkey, prime rib and gravy) are not meant for your dog or cat family member. Ham, turkey, prime rib and spicy dishes can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly pancreatitis. Chocolate can cause not only vomiting and diarrhea, but also seizures. Call or take your dog to your veterinarian or the emergency clinic if chocolate is eaten. Let the veterinarian know the kind and amount of chocolate consumed.
Keeping your pet’s routine, (feeding times, exercise periods and bedtime) consistent may help to lower his or her anxiety and stress levels and help everyone enjoy the holiday fun.
Our dogs and cats enjoy new toys and treats at Christmas. Matching up the size and type of new toy can increase you and your pet’s joy and decrease potential hazards. Choose a toy to fit the size of your dog or cat. Small toys with large dogs can be a disaster if your large dog rips the toy in small pieces, swallowing the squeaker, fiber fill and pieces to the toy. Surgery may be needed to remove pieces of the toy weeks after your dog eats the toy.
New cookies and treats are always appearing on store shelves. If your dog or cat is sensitive to certain meats, grains, milk or eggs, check the list of what the treats are made of to avoid health problems over the holiday.
New Years celebrations can be stressful for you or your pets if neighbors celebrate with fireworks (legal or illegal) or firearms. All dogs and cats need to be protected from the loud traumatic noises in an indoor, enclosed, safe area. If your dog is traumatized by loud noises, help is available with a new medication, Sileo. It has been tried and tested on staff dogs. Yes it works. Call the office to see if it will be O.K. For your dog
Please call Bullard-Marks Vet Med Center at (559) 432-0887 if we can assist you.