Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season

Happy Howl-idays!

It’s the most magical time of year again! Snow on the mountains, Christmas trees all decorated and gatherings with family and friends – all of our favourite things.

Let’s make sure our pets also enjoy a happy and safe holiday season.

Anxiety in cats
Stress in cats is more noticeable around the holidays as many “summer outdoor” cats are now indoors and having to take part in the festivities. This may result in stress, which can be manifested as inappropriate urinations, frequent trips to the litter box or blood in the urine. Try using feline pheromones such as Feliway to minimize anxiety for your indoor cats.

Note – if you are seeing signs of inappropriate urinations in your cat, be sure to call us at Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital to rule out the possibility of a life-threatening urinary blockage.

Christmas decorations
Beautiful Christmas decorations can also be hazardous to pets. Cats love to play with tinsel, but if swallowed, it can cause a life threatening linear foreign body, requiring surgery to remove. Holiday lights mean extension cords lying on the floors. Dogs (and some cats) like to chew on these and risk electrocution. If you notice your pet interested in electrical cords, call us at Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital  – we have tips and tricks to keep them safe.

Christmas treats
Christmas dainties and goodies are one of our favourite parts of the holidays; however, they are usually not safe for our pets to eat. Consumption of high fatty foods like nuts, turkey/turkey fat and ham/ham fat can cause the pancreas to become inflamed (causing a pancreatitis) and result in a sick vomiting dog with diarrhea. Many Christmas treats are toxic to dogs and cats. Raisins, macadamia nuts and chocolate can all be life threatening if eaten by dogs or cats.

CLICK HERE to search articles on holiday safety, including
Holiday Toxins for Pets
and
Household Hazards – Holiday Safety Tips for Cat Owners

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns about holiday safety for your pets. We hope you enjoy this festive season and have a fun and safe Christmas!

Best wishes from all of us at GVH