Posts in Category: Pet-Friendly Holidays

The holidays are a time for loved ones, family, and friends, and our pets are included in the love. After the weeks of shopping, wrapping gifts, and going to parties and gatherings, we may not always take the time to include our four-legged friends. After all of the busy, busy, the holidays can be exhausting. Why not take a moment to think up ways to include your pet during the holidays, though? 

The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital are here to help with these festive, creative ideas for merriment for your furriest pals.

The story collection Winnie-the-Pooh was published 92 years ago by the British author A.A. Milne. Pooh (and his highly relatable group of friends in the Hundred-Acre Wood) not only soothed kids still shaken by the effects of war, but with his beautifully simple, yet philosophical, musings Pooh spoke to people of all ages. The characters still endure to this day, in part because we have a treasure trove of insightful quotes that remind us of what really matters in life.

As we prepare to close out the year, we can’t help but reflect on the things we’re grateful for. To quote Eeyore, “ A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference”. Our compassionate veterinary staff couldn’t agree more!

We love DIY pet gifts! They’re fun to make and relatively easy when you have the right supplies/tools. But probably the best thing about making your own pet gifts is that you can customize them based on your best friend’s interests and preferences. Plus, it’s a labor of love to design and create items that you know your pet will enjoy.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you may be thinking about meals, family, and eating your fill of delicious foods. It’s natural to want to share in the fun with our furry family members too, but the holiday table is fraught with high fat, salty foods that are not the best for our pets.

Feeding our pets traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey bones, table scraps, gravy, and stuffing can cause GI upset – and worse. Any sudden change in diet and consuming fatty foods can cause a painful and potentially deadly condition called pancreatitis.

With that in mind, we decided to put together a list of ideas for Thanksgiving fun for pets – that don’t include food. After all, a healthy pet is one of the best things to be thankful for!

For many of us, it’s trick-or-treat time, which likely means lots of fun and goodies for your family. But it can also mean dangers for your pets. While many pets do enjoy being included on Fright Night, be cautious about where and what you allow your pet to do on the scariest night of the year. Avoiding scares in your own home is key when it comes to Halloween pet safety, and Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital can help!

Many pet owners know exactly when it’s about to rain buckets in July, but it’s not because they saw the weather report. Instead, by watching their pet closely for any signs of of fear or stress, they can count down when the first bolt of lightning will fill the sky. Between summer storms or Fourth of July fireworks, pet anxiety is a real danger this time of year. However, with a bit of clever planning and preparation, animals don’t have to suffer.

Signs of a Problem

Every pet reacts differently to stress, but pet anxiety is typically characterized by hiding, trying to escape, damaging their surroundings, or even harming themselves. Noise aversion can develop into a full-blown phobia if left alone. Luckily, there are ways to support animals going through this. Continue…

When it comes to pets and the holidays, we try to have all the bases covered. In fact, we’ve written a bit about it before. With that in mind, it’s clear the combination of pets and the holidays – especially with regard to safety – is powerful enough to warrant ongoing attention.

The holiday season provides an opportunity to reflect on what matters most. Certainly, holiday pet safety is a top priority, but if you were to spend an entire day with your pet, would it include favorite holiday movies and some scrumptious food? We thought so!

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We are swiftly sliding toward year-end, a fact that many cat owners brace themselves for. Is Fluffy going to bring down the Christmas tree again this year? Burn their whiskers from getting too close to festive candles?

With our holiday cat safety measures firmly in place, you won’t have to worry quite as much. And Fluffy? Ringing in the new year in style, comfort, and top health.

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If you’ve followed our blog over the years (and, of course, we hope you have!), then you probably know all about pet toxins. You might even have a list of all the no-no’s that can cause pet poisoning. Still, most holidays that involve lots of food go hand-in-hand with increased calls to the Pet Poison Helpline and visits to veterinary emergency clinics.

Along with gratitude, there’s no doubt that Thanksgiving is all about the food and lots of it. Because many pet owners still don’t know about some of the foods that are dangerous to pets, it’s important to remind everyone about these risks. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital has some great suggestions on how to create a pet-friendly Thanksgiving to keep your furry friend safe this season – and throughout the year!

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There are some things that just don’t mix. For example, the Fourth of July and pets is often a risky combination. Loud noises, parties, fireworks, and other crowded festivities are all part of the equation, making the holiday seem like a pain for pet owners everywhere.

In a previous blog, we wrote about the dangers of the holiday and how to protect your pet. This also includes a common pet condition (noise anxiety) and how to help your furry friend cope. But what about ways to make the holiday pet friendly?

For all our pet parents out there, we have some fun and safe ideas for spending the Fourth of July with your pet.

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