19 Dec Christmas time: looking out for our Pets
Christmas is a time for friends, family and food! The weather is hot, everyone is in a great mood and our pets are right there with us.
It’s such a busy (and sometimes stressful!) time of year but it is still so important to keep our pets safe and happy. Here are a few things to be mindful of this festive season:
Hot weather= Hot pets
While most of us love a good Australian summer, some don’t cope with the heat so well. Our pets are at risk of heat stroke and dehydration just as we are, so it’s important to make sure they stay well hydrated and have plenty of shelter from the sun, be it in inside the cool house or a shady patch of the yard. Below are some tips on how to cool down a dog or cat:
Try adding ice cubes to your pet’s water bowl, or putting a wet towel in the freezer until it is cold for them to lie on. An air-conditioned environment is ideal, but a shady area with good airflow is also good.
If you notice that your pet is panting excessively, lethargic, inappetant, reluctant to move, has dry gums or feels very hot to the touch, please do not hesitate to bring them to the clinic for assessment.
Turkey, roast vegetables, pudding…what can we share?
Just like any other time of the year, there are some foods which we must be very careful not to feed to our pets. Be sure to keep treats and chocolates in a sealed container well out of reach of pets and prepare meals away from hungry eyes.
These foods should be avoided entirely: garlic, onion, oil or foods cooked in oil, cooked bones, chocolate, lollies, coffee, alcohol, grapes, sultanas/raisins, nuts, avocado, mushrooms, mustard, rhubarb (leaves), salt, fruit pits, lilies and other flowers
These foods are ok in small amounts: fruits such as watermelon and apples, roast vegetables, roast meat (turkey, lamb, chicken and beef), processed pet treats
For a full list of foods that aren’t safe/healthy for pets, please visit our website
Tinsel and tummies don’t mix!
Cats and dogs alike seem to just love rolling around in wrapping paper and destroying Christmas tree decorations. Did you know that tree decorations and wrapping supplies are actually a danger to your pet’s health? If ingested, tinsel and ribbon can become a “linear foreign body”, which can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract if not removed and even result in death. Likewise, chunks of wrapping paper, baubles and other decorations can cause an obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, which again may require major surgery or result in death. So while this all may sound very scary and over the top, please just remember to be very vigilant about anything that looks like an enticing toy to your furry friends
If you’re looking for more advice on how to cool down a dog, we are a vet that’s open over the holidays. We’re also one of the few local vets open on Sunday. Click here to contact us or book online.
Merry Christmas!