Guest Blog: A Cat Safe Holiday

 Dr Barclay from Abbeywood Cat Hospital provided us with this informative blog entry to help keep your cat safe and happy this holiday season.  Thank you Dr Barclay!  You can visit her clinic website at www.abbeywoodcathospital.com

The Holiday Season has arrived, a time for decorating, partying, feasting, fun and limitless opportunities for cat-related holiday mishaps. While there is no way to fully cat-proof this time of year, an awareness of potential problems is helpful.

Decorations abound during the holidays. Things we see as sources of ornamentation for our homes, the cat sees them as curiosities to be explored. Trees to climb, candles to knock over, ornaments to chase and break, lights, garland and tinsel to chew on, the list goes on. Take a step back from the scene to look for things that are shiny, wiggly, colorful, illuminated or even just different, and know these are intriguing to your cat. Try to decorate with non-breakable items when possible, avoid live flames, be sure trees and other decorations are held securely. If your cat is a particularly curious or bold individual, you may want to limit the cat’s access to decorated sections of the home.
Holiday plants are another source of trouble. Some holiday plants contain toxic substances and will cause illness if ingested. This ASPCA link is a good resource regarding toxic plants https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list. Keep in mind, however, that any ingested plant material, chemically toxic or not, can cause illness. The physical presence of foreign plant material in the cat’s stomach is enough to make many cats quite sick. Live evergreens, the staple of many holiday decorations, are another source of problems. Some cats are allergic to evergreens and will develop a skin rash when exposed. Contact with the sap can result in skin irritation. Ever try removing sticky tree sap from the coat of a cat? Have fun with that! Do not let the cat drink from the water reservoir of your tree, especially if you have added a preservative to it. And remember, no matter how beautifully decorated it may be, it is still a tree, and from your cat’s perspective it is there to be climbed. If you allow your cat to be near the tree, be sure it is secure in the stand and consider additional reinforcements or supports.
Guests, unusual schedules, and holiday parties are another source of feline angst this time of year. The stresses associated with these events can result in medical and/or behavioral problems for many cats. Stress is not just a state of mind; when stressed the body responds with chemical changes that can affect pre-existing medical problems. The eating pattern of your cat may be affected by the presence of unfamiliar people or pets in the home. These factors should be discussed with your veterinarian as medication, or changes in medication, may be necessary. This is particularly important for older more fragile cats, and cats with health problems such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or urinary tract disorders. Behavior problems including inappropriate litter box behavior and aggression can be precipitated by the arrival of guests. Doors being opened frequently and a frightened cat are the recipe for a lost pet. Providing your cat with a private, quiet place to be away from the action is always recommended. The cat retreat should include food, water, a nice place to sleep and a litter box. And make sure your cat is microchipped, just in case!

_____________________________________________________________________________

IMG_6291

Here’s “Princess” the cat reminding you to check your fridge before closing if you have a curious cat like her!

Have a topic that you would like us to blog about? Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement! We just may pick the topic you ask for!

_____________________________________________________________________________

A Happy Dog Thanksgiving!

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

As we gather around the table for Thanksgiving dinner, we call to mind things in our lives that we are thankful for and often, our dogs are at the top of the list. They greet us with wagging tails, cuddle with us when we are sick or sad, and provide hours of entertainment with their antics. While we include our pets in our celebration, here are a few tips to keep them healthy and happy during the holiday season.

 

1.) Do not feed your dog table scraps. In my years of working as a veterinary assistant, I have seen many dogs get sick from ingesting table food. Items that contain onions, garlic, grapes or chocolate can be toxic to your dog and turkey bones can splinter, damaging the stomach and intestines. Instead, spoil them with a new toy or special dog treat that they can enjoy during dinner. If you have guests that will feed the dog from the table, consider putting your dog in his crate or in another room during the meal. Besides making your dog sick, feeding your dog from the table can encourage begging.

 

2.) If your dog accidentally gets into something he should not have and becomes ill, seek veterinary help immediately. Waiting until your regular vet is open on Monday can have serious consequences for your dog. Familiarize yourself with local emergency clinics in the event that something should happen.

 

3.) Large groups of people coming into your home can be stressful for your dog. Even the biggest social butterfly can become overwhelmed. Have a quiet area for your dog to go when they want to take a break from company. A crate or a dog bed in a quiet room are good alternatives.

 

4.) Do not force your dog to socialize if he does not want to. It is always a good idea to let your dog make the first move when meeting a new person. Dogs that are nervous can feel threatened if someone they do not know reaches in for a pet. You can arm your guests with treats that they can drop for your dog to help him feel more comfortable.

 

5.) If you will be traveling during the holidays, be sure to make arrangements for your dog in advance. Both boarding facilities and in-home pet sitters book quickly during the holiday season. Be sure to leave ample time for your dog to get any needed vaccinations.

image4

Sheila, one of Pawty’s favorite cattle dogs, wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

From the Pawty family to yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Heather Hummel

Dog Trainer/Caregiver

Who Wants To Pawty LLC

Have a topic that you would like us to blog about? Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement! We just may pick the topic you ask for!

Indoor Fun To Prevent Winter Boredom In Dogs

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

     I look out the window at the at the softly falling snow. A gentle wind blows the snow across the ground. I appreciate the beauty of winter until I look at the thermometer, it’s a whopping 5 degrees and the wind chill makes it feel like -10. My Australian Cattle Dog, Sheila, sits by the door and looks at me hopefully wanting to go for a run or have a nice, long game of fetch. “Sorry Sheila” I say “Looks like we’re going to have to play inside. Again.”

     This is a problem dog owners run into every winter. Your dog is bored. You know they need exercise, but its too cold to have them outside for longer than a few minutes. So what’s a dog owner to do? Here are a few ideas to help keep the winter boredom at bay.

     Winter is a great time to enroll your dog in a training class. Obedience training is a great way to not only teach your dog manners but to challenge their mind. Teaching your dog something new is a great way to burn energy. If you think about the last time you had to do something mentally challenging such as taking a test, preparing for a presentation at work, or doing your taxes, you probably felt pretty tired afterwards. The same is true for your dog. Besides obedience classes, there are also classes that teach tricks, nose work, and dogs sports such as Agility or Flyball. There is a class out there for every dog and every interest.

     It is possible to exercise your dog indoors. Some dogs really enjoy learning to walk on a treadmill. In fact, I think they like it more than most humans do. The important thing to remember is to be safe and start the treadmill very slowly at first. As they get more comfortable, you can start to increase the speed.

     If you have an open area in your house, you could also play fetch with your dog indoors. Instead of using a tennis ball that could potentially break lamps or TVs, use a soft cloth ball and don’t throw as far as you would outside. When using a shorter throw, you can also teach your dog to “Catch” the ball and bring it back to you.

     As a kid, you probably enjoyed playing “Hide and Seek”. Well, your dog does too! Take several small treats and hide them throughout the house for your dog to find. This will work your dog’s nose and his mind as he searches for the treats. You can also do this before you leave the house to keep your dog entertained while you are gone.

     If you see your dog as the intellectual type, there are plenty of puzzle toys out there to challenge your dog’s mind. You hide treats in the compartments of the puzzle and your dog will have to slide doors open or flip doors up to get to the treats. There are also treat dispensing balls that your dog rolls around the floor to dispense the treats. To help avoid weight gain, instead of using treats, you can feed your dog his dinner in a puzzle. My dog, Sheila, loves it!

     As you can see, there are a lot of ways to have fun with your dog even when the weather is bad. Until next time, stay warm Pawty fans!

 

-Heather Hummel
Pet Sitter/Dog Trainer
Who Wants to Pawty LLC

 

Have a topic that you would like us to blog about? Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement! We just may pick the topic you ask for!

A Few Winter Safety Tips

 (DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

     Greetings Pawty fans! I’m Heather and I’m a Dog Trainer/Caregiver for Who Wants to Pawty LLC. I am thrilled to be writing for the Pawty Blog. As anyone who knows me knows, I can talk for hours about pets. Since we’re enjoying some lovely winter weather, I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk about winter safety for your pets.

     Extremely cold temperatures are just as dangerous for your pets as they are for people. Frostbite and hypothermia can happen in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to protect your pets during the winter months.

     The first is pretty simple, don’t leave your pets outside for long periods of time. If your dog is anything like mine, they probably don’t want to be outside for longer than they have to be when the wind chill is -25º F. You can also put a jacket or a sweater on your pet to help keep them warm, especially if they still like to go for walks in the winter. To protect your dog’s paws from cold sidewalks and salt, you can put boots on them. Besides keeping their paws warm and providing traction in icy conditions, boots provide entertainment for the humans as you watch them get used to walking in them. There are the YouTube videos to prove it.

     Speaking of salt, be sure to use a pet-safe brand of sidewalk salt. The chemicals in traditional salt can make your pet sick and cause irritation to the paw pads.

     Anti-freeze will keep your car from freezing but it is extremely toxic to your pets. Check underneath your car frequently and clean up any anti-freeze leaks. Keep bottles of anti-freeze far out of reach of your pets. If you think your pet may have ingested anti-freeze they need to be seen by a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. If your regular veterinarian isn’t available, they need to be taken to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital. It only takes a small amount of anti-freeze to make them very sick.

     Sadly, not all pets have warm homes to live in. Stray dogs or cats will often hide under cars or in the wheel wells to try to escape the cold. Small kittens or mice may even crawl up under the hood. Before you drive, check to be sure that an animal isn’t using your car as shelter from the cold.

     Now that you have these tips to help keep your pets safe, in an upcoming blog I will talk about how to keep your dog entertained when it’s too cold to play outside.

-Heather Hummel
Dog Trainer/Caregiver

  Have a topic that you would like us to blog about?  Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement!  We just may pick the topic you ask for!

CUTE LITTLE "ELWOOD" THE DOG SPORTING HIS SWEATER AND BOOTS!

CUTE LITTLE “ELWOOD” THE DOG SPORTING HIS SWEATER AND BOOTS!