Holiday hazards around the home

We don't want to be a downer at the holidays, but it's true that at this time of year we tend to see more pets needing emergency care due to some common holidays hazards. Families are busy celebrating, and might not always notice what their dog or cat are getting into. Here are a few things to keep in mind during the festive season:

Christmas Tinsel and Christmas tree ornaments

Tinsel, though very pretty, is very attractive to pets, especially cats. Though it is non-toxic if they do ingest it, the long strands can become tangled within their intestines. They will not be able to pass the tinsel themselves, and it can result in a foreign body obstruction.  If you see your pet eating tinsel it is best to seek immediate veterinary care.

Ornaments hung on the tree at pet height can easily be seen as toys. Make sure if you are hanging any decorations on your tree that you place them out of your pets reach. Pets may decide they look like a tasty snack or toy and break them, leading to injury.

Christmas lights and electrical chords

Lighting on the tree or even around the house may be a hazard for curious pets. It is best to hang lights out of reach, and only have them turned on when you are home to supervise.

Pets that like to chew are also at risk of chewing on electrical cords.  Electric shock can occur and lead to damage in your pets mouth. This can be in the form of burnt tissue, or even fractures of the teeth. It is best to check over your entire electric chords daily to look for any signs of chewing.

Gift wrap ribbon

Just like tinsel pets may decide this makes a fun toy or snack. This can lead to choking, or again a foreign body stuck within the intestines. It is best to discard any ribbon or bows into the garbage right away before pets have a chance to chew on them.

It might look really cute to decorate your pet with a Christmas ribbon collar, but make sure to remove these after you are done taking photos, or if you are not able to supervise your pet.

Food Hazards

There are many holiday treats that although they are tasty for us, can be toxic to our four legged friends. Here is a list of foods to keep away from pets this season:

-Depending on the size of your pet, it may only take a small amount of chocolate to cause toxicity. Chocolate contains theobromine, which when ingested can make your pet sick. Theobromine is present in higher amount in products like baking chocolate, then dark chocolate, with milk chocolate containing the least amount. The most common signs of chocolate toxicity are vomiting and tremors at low doses, but at high doses we can see seizure activity and sometimes death. If your pet gets into any Christmas goodies this holiday season, contact us and we can let you know if your pet needs to seek immediate medical attention.

-Fat trimmings and turkey bones are dangerous for pets especially dogs. The fat off the turkey can lead to pancreatitis. Bones can break and splinter in your dog’s mouth, and can even break teeth. If fragments are swallowed the can become obstructive in the intestines, or cause lacerations.

-Keep your pet on her regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet special treats or table scraps.

Holiday plants

Some decorative plants can be poisonous if ingested by our pets.

-Poinsettias can cause oral irritation to a pets mouth and stomach. They can also induce vomiting.

-Christmas tree pine needles can produce oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, trembling and posterior weakness.

-Holly, commonly found during the Christmas season, can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

-Mistletoe, another Christmas plant, can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death when ingested.

Stress

The holiday season, though filled with Christmas cheer for us, can be a very stressful time for our four legged friends. Make sure pets have a safe spot to go to hide, or be away from all the noise when they feel the need.

All of us at Guelph Lake Veterinary Hospital want to wish you and your pets a safe and happy holiday season! 

Note: Parts of this blog post were originally posted on our sister hospital's blog at Woodlawn Veterinary Hospital.

Our city is one of the most pet friendly in Canada

Congratulations, Guelph! Our city has recently been declared one of the Top 10 Pet Friendly cities in Canada... in fact, we trail only Kingston for the most pet friendly in Ontario! That's great news. It means that our city's pets have access to great veterinary care, lots of off leash parks and pet friendly businesses. Where's your favourite place to take your pet in Guelph?

You can read more in this article at TheRecord.com and see the whole list of the Top 50 here!

Image source: http://cdndogs.ca/canadas-top-50-pet-friendliest-cities/

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!).

Hallowe'en Pet Safety

A Daschund dressed up as a hotdog?  Who can resist?!  For many people Halloween is a time to dress up not only themselves, but their dogs and even cats as well.  However, before you get Fido all dressed up for a night of trick or treating, keep in mind that the most important thing for Hallowe'en night is to have a safe and fun evening and to accomplish this your four legged friends might be better off at home. 

While wearing coats, dresses, sweaters and boots may be regular attire for some dogs, the vast majority of pets are not used to sporting duds of any kind.  If you are considering putting your pet in costume for Hallowe'en take the time to consider what your pet is used to when picking a costume out.  Those dogs that usually wear a coat, would likely be quite comfortable in a coat or onesie type costume.  An animal that never wears any clothing other than their collar is probably better off with a dressed up collar than a full body suit.  Once you have picked out a costume provide ample time to “test drive” the outfit before the big day.  Assess how your pet is acting when in costume.  Do they appear their normal selves?  Are they shying away from people?  Do they seem “embarrassed”?  Unless your pet is displaying their normal attitudes and behaviours, you should think twice about whether they should be in costume.  Even if your pet is super confident in their costume, be sure to provide lots of positive reinforcement – treats, pats and fun games.  Cats can be more difficult than dogs, but the same concepts apply; pick an appropriate costume, test drive it first and make sure to have lots of positive reinforcement. 

It's also important to always supervise your pet while they are wearing their costume. Cats and dogs are curious and may try to chew at their costume, or become tangled in it themselves or in their environment. 

Now that the costume is all sorted out, where to go?  While it may be enticing to think of trick or treating with your dog, it is usually a safer bet to keep them at home.  Even very well socialized dogs can become frightened or startled by children running around in costume in the dark.  Additionally, costumes often make it difficult for us to read our pets’ body language so we may miss vital clues that they are becoming anxious in the situation.  If you must bring your pet with you try to stay away from large crowds, have lots of treats available to reward good behavior and act as a distraction, use an appropriately sized leash and collar so that you have good control.  Remember, the safest place for your pet this Halloween is usually at home in their familiar environment.  

Keep in mind, also, that chocolate and artificial sweeteners can be harmful to your pets. If they decide to taste-test the candy stash and you are concerned, please don't hesitate to give us a call. We can help determine whether they have ingested enough to be toxic. The type and quantity of chocolate as well as the size of your pet will let us know if there's a reason to be worried. Artificial sweeteners like xylitol can cause reactions in your pet as well, and they should be monitored if they've eaten sugar-free candies.

Whether you end up leaving the furry family members at home or taking them along for the evening, we wish you and your pets a safe and happy Halloween!

P.S. Did you know that we now have a Facebook page? Find us at Guelph Lake Vet Hosp!

Gardening for you... and your pets!

Thanks to Dr. Mel Cirinna for sharing her tips for gardening safely with pets, and including them in your landscaping plan!

Growing up my family always had a vegetable garden as well as a number of flower gardens that my mother tended.  I always enjoyed seeing the cats relaxing under the bushes and sharing veggies with the dogs.  There is nothing tastier than a tomato fresh from your own garden!  However, while these are wonderful images from my childhood, I am now learning that there is some planning that goes into enjoying your garden with your pets.  The first time I planted my own tomato plants it became a race to see if I could get to them before our black lab Sadie did.  The same held true of the raspberry bushes. It was not uncommon to see the rear end of Sadie sticking out of a raspberry bush while she delicately removed all the berries with her front teeth.  It wasn’t just the vegetable garden that was at her mercy, Sadie loved to lay in the shaded areas of the flower gardens as well. Any flowers in her way just provided a soft green mattress or she would dig out a cool spot in the dirt below a bushy plant.  Thankfully our gardens were never frequented by the local cats, but this is a problem that many gardeners have as cats see our wonderfully tended gardens as giant litter boxes.  As the years have passed we have made some changes that allow us to enjoy our gardens and the pets to enjoy the backyard.  Hopefully these suggestions will help if you are also struggling to share garden space with furry family members.

Teaching your pets to respect garden boundaries is best done at a young age; however, even older dogs and cats can learn new tricks. For dogs, start by designating a certain area of the yard for elimination. In the beginning you will need to go out with them each time to show them where to go and provide lots of positive reinforcement when they use the appropriate area. With time they should automatically eliminate in the designated area. For cats it can be helpful to provide one sandy area for them to use as a litterbox. The remainder of the garden should be densely planted or mulched. To encourage your cats to use the designated kitty area, plant cat grass and catnip in that area of the yard. Be sure to keep children’s sandboxes covered when not in use! 

Once a designated washroom area has been allocated, the next step is to create visual boundaries to keep pets out of garden beds.  Fences work best, but can be less aesthetically pleasing than decorative garden edging such as stones and bricks.  Keep in mind that even a half foot fence can be enough to visually deter dogs from entering flower beds.  Plants can also be used as visual borders, try varieties such as barberries, roses, euphorbia, Joe pye weed or bamboo.  Coleus Canina (Scaredy-Cat) can be useful in deterring cats, as can lavender.  Also helpful is to create pathways through the garden with mulch, flagstone or pebbles.  By nature, pets will use a groomed path over forging their own way through the garden.

Cats often need more than a visual barrier to be convinced to stay out of gardens.  Try deterrents such as cayenne powder, crushed chili peppers and citrus rinds.  There are also motion activated products on the market that spray water or emit high pitched sound to deter cats. 

Another important thing to consider is the potential toxicity of some plants for our pets.  Many plants will cause gastric upset when ingested, but some can lead to liver and kidney failure.  An extensive list of potentially toxic plants can be found at www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-safe/cats-and-poisonous-plants. 

Taking the time to carefully plan out your garden so that it provides space for you and your pets is well worth it so that everyone can enjoy the space.  Hopefully with our newly fenced in vegetable garden I will be enjoying some tomatoes this year, although I will be sure to save a few for Sadie!  Happy gardening!

Healthy mouth = healthy pet!

At GLVH, we believe that veterinary medicine is as much about preventative care as it is about treatment of pet illnesses. One of the best ways to help maintain your pet's basic health is to ensure that their mouths and teeth are healthy. Thank you to Dr. Melissa Cirinna for this post explaining what to watch for, treatments options and preventative options!

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Does your pet show any of these signs?

Stinky Breath                         
Excessive Drooling
Dropping Kibble                    
Avoiding Hard Foods
Pawing at the Mouth            
Loss of Teeth
Changes in Behaviour 

...If so, they may be part of the 75% of cats and dogs that suffer from dental disease.
     Dental disease begins with the accumulation of plaque on the teeth. Over time the plaque hardens into tartar which aggravates the gums causing gingivitis.  Gingivitis is painful inflammation of the gums, we see it as red, inflamed gums that may bleed when touched.  With time, gingivitis will progress to periodontal disease.  Signs of periodontal disease include tooth loss, infection and pain.  Periodontal disease can also lead to bacteremia.  Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood.  Bacteremia can lead to heart, kidney and liver disease.  
     Thankfully periodontal disease is preventable through good oral hygiene routines.  Good oral health starts with puppies and kittens who should be introduced to daily brushing as part of their early training.  In addition to brushing, pets should be fed a diet specifically formulated to keep plaque accumulation to a minimum and mechanically remove tartar build-up.  Chewing on toys and treats can also help, but exercise caution, toys can be too hard.  Take the knee cap test, if you would not be comfortable hitting the toy against your knee cap, then your pet shouldn't be chewing on it.  Avoid bones and hard nyla bones.  Visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council site for a list of treats, food and products that have met their standards maintaining oral health.  
     What if your pet already shows signs of dental disease, is it too late? Of course not!  The first step for cats and dogs with signs of oral disease is a thorough veterinary exam. After examination the veterinarian may recommend a dental prophylaxis and examination under general anesthesia.  During the dental prophylaxis and examination the veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet's mouth and document any signs of disease including gingivitis, loose teeth, abscesses, gingival recession, root exposure and fractures. All teeth will be scaled to remove tartar build-up and polished.  Diseased teeth, loose teeth or fractured teeth will be extracted to remove any source of pain or infection.  After a dental prophylaxis the veterinary team will help you to begin an at home plan that includes brushing and an appropriate diet to maintain the health of your pet's mouth.

Speak with your veterinary team today to book your pets' free oral health assessment!

Cyber Monday at Guelph Lake Vet Hospital!

It's Cyber Monday across North America, and we're getting in on the action! For today only (Monday, Dec 2, 2013) and until midnight tonight, anyone who uses our online "appointment request" form will receive a $15 credit on their account, to be applied to that appointment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give Julien a call at the hospital today, but remember that the appointment request must be submitted online to qualify!


 

Grand Opening invitation - Guelph Lake Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Gardiner and the staff of GLVH (on the corner of Eastview and Watson Pkwy) would like to invite friends, neighbours, family members and curious Guelphites to stop by our Grand Opening Open House event on Sunday December 8th, 2013 from 12 pm - 4pm

We are excited to be hosting a Guelph Humane Society adoption event during our open house - a great opportunity to welcome a new pet to your home and to take advantage of some Grand Opening deals! Adopt a pet at our Grand Opening, and GLVH will also include a $25 gift card to our hospital, which can be used for your next appointment, food or retail purchase.

Kids, bring your favourite stuffed animal for a chance to be examined by a veterinarian, and also have an X-ray with our new digital X-ray machine! There will also be a ribbon cutting, refreshments and door prizes.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, December 8th!

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Follow @guelphlakevet on Twitter for updates, Guelph news, pet tidbits and more! We'll be live-tweeting from our Grand Opening as well!