Holiday Safety Tips

O Christmas Tree
Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.

Tinsel-less Town
Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

No Feasting for the Furries
By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising fur kid will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.

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 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.

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.

House Rules
If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you’re busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.

Put the Meds Away
Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.

Careful with Cocktails
If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

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.

New Year’s Noise
As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat’s intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears.

There is still time (3 days!) to vote for Animal Hospital Inc. on the FOX 8 HOT LIST.  AHI is listed under the categories of “BEST BOARDING, BEST GROOMING, and BEST TRAINING.”  Please show your support and vote for us!  Tell your friends about us as well.  We GREATLY appreciate the referral!

With the snow starting to fall, many of you will start to use different types of ice melting products (salt, antifreeze, etc)  Many of these products are dangerous to pets.  They can be toxic if ingested or can cause irritation to skin and paw pads.  If you use these products this time of year be sure to keep your pet(s) away from them.  Do store them properly and safely out of your pet(s) reach.  Read all product information to be sure that you are using the item properly.  If your pet(s) does come into contact with a potential harmful product either contact the Animal Poison Control or call us.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin’ Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don’t Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don’t allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Feline Wellness Seminar last night!  We had a great turnout, and had a fun and informative evening.  Each of AHI’s five veterinarians were in attendance and gave presentations.

Congratulations to the winners of the drawings!  Two cat owners won bloodwork, one won a Furminator, and a fourth winner received a Petmate Litter Lock Plus.

Check back here for future events and seminars!

Vote to make this nominee the BEST Grooming. Animal Hospital Inc. http://ctvr.us/animal9?c=1ac6ee83814480d0

With the cold winds beginning to blow be sure to protect your pet against the harsh weather conditions.  Some of the smaller breeds of dogs would benefit from pet apparelle that many pet stores sell (example: coats, booties).  Outdoor cats should have a shelter to go to hide away from freezing winds. Also, be sure to keep your pets away from household items that are used in the winter months such as Anit-Freeze and other Ice Melting Products.  If it is too cold for you to be outside it is more than likely too cold for your pet to be spending long periods of time outside!

AHI was informed via Pet Supplies “Plus” of a Recall Alert! Nature’s Variety Recalls Selected Bags of Instinct Rabbit Meal Formula Grain Free Kibble Diet For Cats:

UPC# 7 69949-60385 6– 5.5 lb. best if used by 09/28/11

UPC# 7 69949-60381 8– 12.1 lb. best if used by 09/29/11

AHI wants to keep you informed of the important information we receive.  If you have any questions about this recall it is noted for you to please contact your local Pet Supplies “Plus” store.

Halloween Pet Threats

Haunted houses. Scary costumes. Grinning pumpkins. Spider webs. The horrors of Halloween are merely make-believe for us humans, but for our pets the danger is very real. Read on for some helpful tips on how to keep your pet safe this holiday season!

Safeguard the candy: Unguarded candy poses the biggest threat to your pets. Make sure all candy is stored in a safe place where your pets can’t get to it. Dogs are at greater risk when it comes to the dangers of chocolate because cats are content to merely taste while dogs will chow down on an entire bag of Snickers bars and Hershey’s Kisses before you have time to even realize what’s happening.

Initially, the ingestion of chocolate may upset your pet’s digestive system due to its high fat and sugar content, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Depending on the amount, more dangerous symptoms–including irregular heartbeat, changes in blood pressure, and even seizures–could develop. This is due to a caffeine-like substance in chocolate called Theobromine. All chocolate contains Theobromine, but the darker the chocolate the more Theobromine it contains and the greater a danger it poses to your pets.

Another threat luring in that trick or treat bag is the artificial sweetener Xylitol, which can be fatal to dogs and cats even in very small quantities. Because Xylitol is a sweetener that prevents tooth decay, it’s most commonly found in sugar-free gums and mints. But because of its minimal effect on human blood sugar levels, it’s also used in chocolates and a number of products designed for diabetics or dieters. Unlike chocolate, which is likely to make your pet sick, Xylitol toxicity is life threatening.

Keep your pets safe when trick-or-treaters come calling: When the doorbell rings make sure you’re aware of you pets’ location before you open the door. Because they could dash out of the house, it’s important keep your pets away from the door as you’re doling out candy to the neighborhood kids.

Remove pet costumes as soon as the photos have been taken: Dogs, and cats alike, can get tangled up in Halloween costumes causing unnecessary distress and even injury. Make sure to limit the amount of time your pet spends in his or her costume, and after the photos have been taken do your four-legged friend a huge favor and take off the costume.

Animal Hospital is raising money for the Geauga Humane Society for WoofStock 2010 Annual Dog Walk and Family Festival! The money raised will help save lives of thousands of homeless pets. Click here to help Animal Hospital raise $500 by September 19th! Go to Geaugahumane.org to donate. Make sure to click on the Animal Hospital team!