Catnip, tug toys, gift cards and more!

With the snow last week and the chill today, it's pretty clear that the holiday season is upon us, and we think that the family pet deserves to have a little something in their stocking on Christmas morning, too!

The staff here at Guelph Lake Vet Hospital have carefully curated a selection of toys, leashes, treats and more to help you and your pets have some fun this holiday. We also have gift cards available in any denomination, which make a great stocking stuffer and will serve you or a friend well into the New Year. 

Check out this sneak peek of some of our holiday selection and stop by to see more! We take requests, too, and would be happy to be one of Santa's elves to help with your holiday shopping.

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Catnip toys! Treats! Tough as nails Kong knots buddies for those dogs who like to chew and tug. Prices range from $5.00 - $20.00 (+tax)

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These "stuffed" animals by Kong are really un-stuffed... filled instead with a tough rope, knotted to give your dog something to chew and tug on that won't fall apart on the first chomp! 2 sizes available from $9.50-$11.50 (+ tax)

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These cat collars, available in several collars, are priced reasonably at $8.50 and include a nametag, bell and reflectors for your outdoor kitty's safety (and the safety of the birds in your backyard feeder!).

Cats vs. Lilies

Spring! It is finally here and despite the snow today there's hope - the days are longer and flowers will soon be making their appearance.  Nothing says spring more than seeing crocuses, tulips and lilies pushing up in the flower beds.  It is nice to get out and smell the flowers or bring a fresh bouquet into the house, but cat owners beware, some of these flowers can cause serious, life-threatening disease for our feline friends.  

While all plants may cause some stomach upset or oral irritation, plants from the Genus Lilium or Hemarocallis are extremely toxic to cats.  These include, but are not limited to, Easter Lilies, Day Lilies, Asiatic Lilies and Tiger Lilies.  Cats that have consumed any part of a lily plant or even ingested some pollen that was on their coat are at risk for life-threatening kidney failure.  If you suspect that your cat has consumed some part of a lily plant it is to be considered a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention.  If your pet has not already vomited, the veterinarian may induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal to help reduce the amount of toxin that is absorbed.  In order to assess the level of kidney damage, bloodwork will be performed.  Treatment for lily poisoning involves hospitalization and intravenous fluid administration to flush out the toxins and support the kidneys.  If treated early there are rarely any long term effects.  However, without treatment, death can occur within 3 days. 

The best way to keep your cats safe is to make sure you do not bring any lily plants into the house.  Pay close attention to the flowers present in bouquets during Easter and Mother’s day, a common time to see cases of lily toxicosis.  Outdoor cats can be a bit more difficult as we cannot be sure where they go when outside.  Keep lilies out of your own garden and watch your cat for any early signs of toxicity.  Seek veterinary attention if your cat displays early signs of poisoning including vomiting, lack of appetite, increased or decreased urination or dehydration.