1. Do not feed your pets “left-overs” or fatty foods
Christmas means lots of yummy food and lots of begging under the table… Don’t give in! Fatty foods can cause Pancreatitis as cats and dogs cannot digest fats like we do. We also see a lot of other food toxicities around the holiday season from foods such as onions, garlic, leeks, grapes, raisins, sultanas, and xylitol.
Be clear to your guests and children about not feeding them and the severity of it.
2. Keep your pets cool
- Avoid walking dogs between the hours of 8am – 5pm and avoid hot pavements. Hyperthermia is commonly seen around this time of year and can be fatal
- On those really hot days, keep them inside with the air conditioning on
- Get creative and freeze some treats with water to make ‘Pawpsicles’
3. Don’t forget your cats’ and dogs’ tick prevention
It is such a busy time of year that we can easily forget their next dose, however, around Christmas, paralysis tick cases are at their peak. Our emergency clinic often reaches maximum capacity in hospital, with majority of cases being ticks.
4. Does your pet suffer from anxiety?
This time of year is not only storm season, but we also see a lot of distressed animals on New Year’s Eve with all the scary fireworks. If your pet suffers from anxiety, it may be worth coming in to see a vet and have a chat about it if you have not already.
Our tips for stormy and fireworky nights:
- stock up on your pet’s anxiety meds BEFORE it’s too late
- keep pets indoors during New Year’s Eve celebrations so they don’t escape and run away. Often pets run away from home looking for you because they are so scared. Most people who find “strays” will bring them into a vet clinic, so ring around if your pet has run off
- make sure your pets’ microchip details are up to date in case they do run away. This guarantees that we are able to reunite you back together
- have alternatives ready like thunder jackets and/or hormone diffusers. We recommend Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats. We use these in our clinic in the dog and cat ward. They are naturally occurring hormones that can have a calming effect on your pets and reduce stress. We stock these in our clinic, so feel free to call us for more information and if these would be of benefit to you
5. Keep toys, gift wrapping and decorations out of reach
Pets are like children, and fun objects are just screaming to be eaten. Let’s avoid your pets from becoming blocked and needing surgery. Keep an eye on your pets bowel movements and notice any abnormalities in their behaviour. If you see your pet eating something it shouldn’t, give us a call straight away for advice.
Now is the best time to prepare for the silly season. Call us for more information on 02 5555 6990.
For emergencies on weekends and public holidays, call North Coast Emergency Vets on 0424 054 056.
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