It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we want everyone, including our furry best friends, to enjoy the season.  Remember that during the holidays, greater risks exist for your pet.

• Food: Certain foods and beverages are toxic to animals: chocolate, alcohol, coffee, onions, yeast, salt, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and other fatty foods. Watch food supplies while cooking. Keep pets away from the trash. If snack or food trays are out, make sure your pet cannot get to them, (keep food away from the edge of countertops.) Gifts containing food should not be left under the tree; your pet will smell it and get into the package.  You will then be seeing us.

• Decorations: Keep Christmas tree ornaments, lights and tinsel to a minimum on the lower branches of the tree. (If your cat is a climber, it might be best to put the tree in a room where doors can be closed.) Ornaments, tinsel and ribbons are sometimes ingested. Electrical wires are often chewed. Also monitor areas containing candles, as they attract the animal’s curiosity. Plants, such as lilies, poinsettias, holly, and mistletoe, are poisonous to cats and dogs. Keep those out of reach also.

• Guests: If you have guests coming in for the holidays, remember that it can be easy for a pet to slip outside and go unnoticed for longer periods of time. Pets should be wearing collars and identification tags at all times. If your pet is not a good traveler, you may want to consider boarding them over the holidays.

• Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital offers boarding exclusively to all of our clients. We do not board for the general public, so your pet will not be exposed to animals that may have health issues.  We are also especially prepared to accommodate older pets that need more attention and greater comfort.

• If you suspect a health problem over the holidays, contact us immediately!! Waiting to see if your pet will get better until the holidays are over involves more risk to your dear friend and probably greater expense.