Heartwarming Holiday Tale

The holidays are about more than just presents and decorations. They are about being a good person and helping someone in need. Our brother Jeff is a dog lover extraordinaire and a real life Santa. Just before Christmas, during these freezing temperatures, an elderly neighbor (a disabled veteran) managed to wheel himself over to Jeff’s house. He and his wife were in dire straits because they had no running water and their pipes had been frozen for days. Jeff could have offered to call a plumber, but in the true spirit of the holidays, he offered his help. He gathered his tools and another neighbor and went to work. Instead of a chimney, Jeff had to go down a deep crawl space and fix the problem. The elderly couple were beyond grateful. Sometimes Santa wears a tool belt instead of his red velvet coat.

Why Pets Act Naughty Over The Holidays

Sometimes pets can “act out” at the worst possible times. It can be so frustrating when you are having company, only to find out that Fido had an accident on the carpet or got into the trash and made a big mess. Pets feel the stress of the holidays just like we do. They are creatures of habit and like their regular routine to feel balanced. New people in the house, being left alone, different sounds and movements can give them anxiety! Whatever way possible, do all you can to keep your pet’s feeding schedule and exercise routine as close to normal as you can. A routine helps pets feel safe and reduces the likelihood of destructive behavior during this busy time. 

Christmas Trees Are Temptations For Your Cat

Sparkling lights. Shiny ornaments. A climbing post. These are all things that cats love! Some cats will paw at ornaments, chase twinkling lights, hide deep inside the branches or climb right up to the top of a decorated Christmas tree. Cats are curious and like to explore. They are also natural climbers and their instinct is to get to the highest vantage point.

How do you keep your cat (and your Christmas tree) safe? Some cat owners use foil, decorative stones or other barriers around the base to discourage climbing. Get a stable stand to keep the tree secure and use jingle bells in the tree as an alert in case your adventurous kitty happens to land on a branch. Consider pricklier varieties of pine trees, like Colorado Blue Spruce or Norway Spruce, which are less appealing to cats. Best of all, make this holiday tradition special for your kitty by getting an alternative tree just for them - a cat climbing tree or perch placed right near the Christmas tree.

Do You Have A Finicky Pet?

 

Have you tried raw freeze-dried food or toppers? Most pets love the taste and they can be a life-saver if your pet is not feeling well or is a finicky eater. It can be really frustrating (and expensive) when we try to feed our pets and they don’t want to eat.

Raw freeze-dried treats and toppers provide a powerhouse of nutrition in a very condensed form. This makes them a great solution, especially for the pet who just “takes a few bites”. They come in a variety of flavors and textures. While poultry and beef are common flavors, there are plenty of hypoallergenic options. Pictured around the sides of the bowl are toppers: turkey, elk with venison, salmon and rabbit. In the center are raw rabbit freeze-dried nuggets.

Beware Of Toxic Hazards In Your Garage

It’s busy and you don’t have time right now, but yet it’s so important. When is the last time you looked through your garage for toxic hazards? Many items in the garage can be hazardous to pets. Please be sure to keep these common items out of reach from your cats and dogs: Fertilizer, Antifreeze, Automotive Products, Cleaners, Pesticides (especially rat poison), Glue. During the holidays, we are distracted and this is when your pets get into trouble.

Many years ago when Legend was a pup, we discovered he had knocked a small container of fertilizer off the shelf (it was in a container that was shaped like a tomato so it looked and smelled like food). Luckily we heard the racket and there he was about to lick up the fertilizer off the floor. (We also had to bring him in to ER for ingestion of a xylitol muffin and rat poison at someone’s house.) He was tall as a person, a curious pup and enjoyed rummaging through the shelves! When did these incidents occur? When we had company, during the holidays or when we had important family health matters and weren’t watching his every move.

The holidays are a busy time! Take a few minutes to just make sure that dangerous items in your garage are out of your pet’s reach. Pets are strangely attracted to the smells and will eat them. If you think your pet has ingested anything, don’t wait. Please contact your vet or pet poison control helpline right away. Every second counts.

International Day Of Veterinary Medicine

 

Today is International Day of Veterinary Medicine, a day to recognize the valuable contributions of veterinary professionals worldwide. The first veterinary school was opened in France in 1762. For hundreds of years, veterinarians have been caring for animals as well as doing significant research to further advance their health and welfare. There are different kinds of veterinarians ranging from those that treat small companion animals to livestock and exotics as well as those who work in research and specialty fields.

Pictured is Legend's holistic veterinarian Dr. David Gordon (with his yorkie Chauncey) from Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic who works tirelessly to help keep Legend and all of his patients healthy. AskAriel would like to thank all of the veterinary professionals across the world who are helping to make the lives of animals better! 

Watch For Unusual Behaviors In Your Pet

Have you noticed any unusual behavior in your pet? Pets instinctively hide their pain. We all know that when a pet is limping or throwing up, that there is something wrong. But many times, pets display more subtle, unusual behaviors making it hard for pet owners to know they are sick. One unusual behavior is called a “plantigrade stance” in cats. This is when a cat walks flat-footed on their rear paws. Normally a cat's hocks are vertical. The most common (not exclusive) causes are diabetic neuropathy or a tendon injury. Both are serious conditions that need veterinary treatment. Other unusual behaviors pets may display are pacing, panting, sitting in a prayer position (downward dog) or hiding to name a few. When we are busy, especially during the holidays, these subtle signs are so easy to miss. Try to be a pet detective, watching out for unusual pet behaviors. No matter how busy, contact your veterinarian just to be sure your pet is ok.