Last year nearly 150,000 cases of pet poisoning and pet toxicities were reported for dogs and cats. To help ensure pets and their people enjoy a safe, healthy holiday this New Year here are a few safety tips to boost your pet health holiday IQ.

Plants and Medications to avoid with Dogs and Cats.

Holiday Plants are actually more of a problem with cats than with dogs, although curious puppies often enjoy a nibble.

Dr. Carol’s TIP: place plants up out of paw reach or consider safe alternatives like artificial arrangements made from silk.

Lilly’s are lovely but many varieties: Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats

Poinsettia’s are often talked about, but are very overrated. At worst they can cause an upset stomach in dogs and cats.
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For most of us the holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry with good friends and family. I wanted to offer my fellow pet lovers tips to refresh your pet festivity IQ and offers some helpful hints so the Yule tide traditions are as merry for you as they are for your pets.

Holiday Pet Basics: Be sure your pet is healthy, has his or her ID tags and collar, which can be personalized for your dog or cat, take a few precautions and use lots of common sense. Try to decorate your home according to the age, activity level and temperament of your pets and children. If your pets are young and active, homemade expendable ornaments are a great, safe and fun family project.

Holidays are hectic for all of us and that means stress for pets. To minimize stress try to keep your pets diet, snacks and routine as close to normal as possible. Be sure your pet has a quiet place to go so he can relax when he’s had enough. This helps avoid behavioral problems especially with children.

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Although automobile accidents are the number one cause of broken bones in pets, surprisingly enough the second most common cause of fractures in pets is furniture in your home. Pets jump or fall from, for example, your couch or bed and break a bone. A recent survey of pet fractures sums up the most common ways, from which broken bones in pets result. In 2008, hit by cars topped the list, followed by accidents in which pets fell or jumped, primarily from everyday household furniture.

Top 10 Ways Pets Break Bones

1. Hit by Car
2. Jumping
3. Falling
4. Fighting With Other Pets or Animals
5. Running and Slipping
6. Being Hit or Struck With an Object
7. Getting Caught in or Between an Object
8. Running into Object
9. Getting Stepped On
10. Being Injured in a Car Accident
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For most of us the holidays are a time to eat, drink and enjoy good friends and family. Pet expert, veterinarian and author, Dr Carol Osborne, DVM helps pet owners refresh their pet health IQ and offers some helpful hints so the traditions are as joyous for you as they are for your pets.

Pet Holiday Safety Basics

Be sure your dog and cat are healthy, has his or her Identification tags and collar. Take a few safety precautions and use lots of every day common sense!

Try decorating your home according to the age, activity level and temperament of your pets and children. If they are young and active, consider homemade expendable ornaments. These are also a great, safe and fun family project.

Holidays are hectic for all of us and that means stress for pets! To minimize your pets stress try to keep your pets diet, snacks and routine as close to normal as possible. Be sure your pet has a quiet place to go so he or she can relax when he’s had enough. This helps avoid behavioral problems especially with children.

Herbal Stress Remedy: Flowers/Bach’s Rescue Remedy is wonderful, effective and very safe for dogs, cats and people. Place a few drops in your pet’s mouth, food or water bowl to relieve stress and anxiety.
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The last thing any pet owner wants to do this holiday season is rush to the animal emergency clinic. Since the holidays often pose many unexpected pet health issues, veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM offers a few tips to help ensure your pets safety this season, so your holiday doesn’t end in disaster.

During the holidays, the majority of pet emergencies are due to pets eating something inappropriate. Certain foods cause upset stomachs, others are poisonous, and some can be life-threatening.

Since about 60% of pet lovers share holiday meals with their 4-footed family friends here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind.

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Nearly 14 million pets mostly dogs are expected to be traveling this holiday season posing all kinds of thorny hospitality issues for pets, as well as their owners and guests. Pet lovers now have several great options available to enjoy the holiday’s with their best 4-legged friends, whether traveling “Over the river or through the woods” with Fido and Fluffy.

48 % of travelers with pets already enjoy pet friendly commercial venues and today the numbers of holiday travel sites available to pets are soaring. In the last few years, nearly 35 percent more hotels, motels, parks, campgrounds, resorts, designer boutiques and even neighborhood bars and airlines have opened up their doors. They actively court pet lovers and extend their hospitality. That’s good news for people looking for the perfect pet-friendly vacation this season.

Top end hotels from the Ritz Carlton to the Hilton now welcome pets with open arms.
The W Hotel chain offers a canine-friendly Woof program which includes pet pillows with special treats placed on them at turn down time and gourmet menus prepared to suit a king. Pets are also a social ice breaker and help spark up conversations making it easier for traveling singles to meet new people.

What’s the Best Way to Plan your Trip?

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For all of us pet lovers planning to have their pets enjoy the festivities Halloween offers, here are a few common sense safety tips for pets and their people to help ensure for all while tricking and treating this season.

1. That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Fido or Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can also be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are not toxic but can produce stomach upsets and even intestinal blockage if large pieces are eaten.

3. Keep wires and electric cords taped securely to the floor or covered so your pet doesn’t chew them and risk burning his mouth or getting an electric shock.

4. Elevate candles and potpourri oils, up out of paw reach. Curious pets and kittens can easily knock them over and cause a fire or risk getting burned.

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