December 20, 2024

From Foods to Decorations to Guests, Follow These Tips this Season

Christmas, New Years and all the winter holidays can pose some challenges for keeping your pet safe. Keep these simple tips in mind for happy holidays.

Holiday No-No Foods

These foods are dangerous for pets and need to be kept away from them.

• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Bones
• Onions
• Garlic
• Grapes/raisins
• Candy
• Cooked bones

Poisonous Plants

Festive Christmas plants can also be dangerous for curious pets. Consider artificial replacements for:

• Poinsettias
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Lilies

Decoration Safety

Everyone loves beautiful holiday decorations! Follow these guidelines for decor that both people and animals can enjoy.

• Put out candles if you are leaving the room
• Tape down any electrical cords
• Avoid tinsel
• Cover the water pan under the Christmas tree

Managing Your Pet Around Guests

Help help your pets successfully interact with guests takes a little planning. Here are some ideas.

• Make sure their ID tags are up-to-date
• Hold onto your pet as people enter the house
• Introduce your guests to your pet
• Teach kids the proper way to treat a pet
• Make sure nobody feeds them from the table
• Give your pets a safe place to get away and have quiet time

Cold Weather Safety

• For outdoor pets, make sure to offer fresh (unfrozen) water, warm bedding and wind-free shelter
• Keep your pet away from antifreeze and other cold-weather chemicals like de-icers
• Remember that elderly and infant pets are the most vulnerable to cold

October 14, 2024

Pet Safety Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe & Sound

Spooky season is here, and people love it! About 60% of Americans celebrate Halloween. But 0% of pets enjoy being frightened, so let’s review some safety tips.

Candy is Never Good for Pets

For the health and safety of your cat or dog, keep all candy away from them. Chocolate candy or sugar-free candy are toxic, while sticky candies can become stuck in teeth or digestive tracts. Here are some tips to help your pet avoid the candy:

• Make sure your kids understand that sharing candy with pets is dangerous
• Put the trick-or-treat bowl out of reach of your pet
• Store bags of candy in a cabinet your pet can’t reach
• If you have your leashed dog at a Halloween event, watch the ground for dropped candy

Costumes Aren’t for Every Pet

We love seeing dressed up dogs and cats as much as anyone– they are just so cute in costumes! But not every pet wants to join in the fun. If your pet resists wearing a costume, don’t force it. Here are more costume guidelines:

• Don’t put a mask on your pet for any length of time, even if your pet doesn’t seem to mind. Just long enough to snap a cute pic.
• Choose a comfortable costume that isn’t too tight and allows normal movement (walking, sitting, lying down).
• If your pet shows any discomfort or irritation, remove the costume right away

Home is the Safest Place

Halloween celebrations often happen at night, with large crowds. This experience isn’t for most pets, who are safest and happiest indoors at home. If you’re welcoming trick-or-treaters or going to a party, create a safe space in your home where your pet won’t come face-to-face with strangers.

For more Halloween safety tips, check out these articles:

• Top 7 Halloween Pet Safety Tips
• Avoid Pet Boo-Boos this Halloween

Wishing you and your pet a happy and safe Halloween!

March 18, 2024

Enjoy a Safe Holiday!

Easter is early this year, so it coincides with Pet Poison Prevention Awareness month in March. Keep these five tips in mind as you plan your celebrations.

1. Plastic basket grass: If your pet swallows plastic grass, it can cause intestinal blockages.
2. Lilies: These plants are very toxic to your feline friends and can cause rapid kidney failure.
3. Chocolate: This food is very toxic to dogs if ingested.
4. Easter dinner: High-fat foods can cause GI upset. Leftover bones can cause foreign body (an object that becomes stuck in your pet’s body that shouldn’t be there).
5. Easter eggs: Real or fake eggs can be harmful to your pets. Spoiled eggs can cause upset stomachs and fake one can cause intestinal blockages.

10 Common Plants Toxic to Pets

Know these common plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. We recommend that you don’t keep the in your home.

1. Lilies
2. Philodendron
3. Oleander
4. Aloe
5. Chrysanthemum
6. Hyacinth
7. Jade plant
8. Sago palm
9. Daffodil
10. Asparagus fern

You may also want to check out “Top 20 Pet Toxins in Ohio.” Let’s enjoy spring with our pets, and keep everyone safe.

December 5, 2023

Enjoy Happy Holidays by Avoiding These Risks

Christmas and the whole holiday season are usually a busy time– a happy sort of hectic. And our pets often join in on the fun, as we decorate the house and make festive recipes. Here are some reminders of common dangers to avoid during all the hustle and bustle.

Holiday Food No-No’s

Cats and dogs should never be given any of these food items:

• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Cooked or raw bones
• Onions or garlic
• Grapes or raisins
• Candy

See more foods on the no-no list…

Poisonous Plants

We believe the risk of pets ingesting a poisonous plant outweighs their beauty. Consider getting artificial versions of these toxic plants:

• Poinsettias
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Lilies

Check out our Field Guide to Toxic Plants…

Decoration Safety

Sometimes, pets can get a little too interested in decorations and harm themselves. Follow these decoration safety tips:

• Extinguish candles when you leave the room
• For live trees, cover the water bowl underneath
• Don’t decorate with tinsel, which can be very dangerous if pets eat or chew it
• Tape down extension cords, or use a safety cover meant for electrical cords

Get 6 More Pet Safety Tips for the Winter…

Good tidings we bring, to you and your pets! We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ~from all your friends at Companion Care Animal Hospital

October 12, 2023

Save the Spooky for the People,
and Help Your Pets Feel Safe

Halloween can be especially scary for pets, as trick-or-treating invites multiple “strangers” to ring your doorbell. Their home is typically their calm base, and suddenly it’s chaos. Consider these seven tips for making the holiday more enjoyable for your pets.

1. Keep candy away from your pet. Chocolate is toxic! And all candy is bad for your pet. Offer pet treats instead.
2. Make sure their costumes are comfortable. And frequently check to make sure your pet isn’t endangered how the costume fits them, i.e., too tight around the neck (and if your pet hates costumes, consider letting them just celebrate in spirit).
3. Avoid dangerous decorations. Jack-o-lanterns and dry ice can make for a fantastically spooky atmosphere, but they can also put your pet in danger
4. Stay visible while outside. Wear light-colored clothing, or lights on your person and pet’s harness.
5. Help your pet stay relaxed. Give them a space of their own to feel safe. Consider playing music or TV for them to help cover the noise of celebrations.
6. Use ID tags. Halloween is frightening for pets in all the wrong ways, and they may escape from opened doors or backyards.
7. Keep cats indoors. Not only will the hustle-and-bustle of trick-or-treating alarm them, but Halloween may be a dangerous night for cats to be victimized.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

October 4, 2022

Save the Creepy, Spooky Scares for People: Help Your Pet Have a Happy Halloween

Like many holidays, Halloween celebrations are fun for people, but sometimes stressful for pets. Imagine it from an animal’s perspective: Being wrangled into a costume while a bunch of strangers come to your door for candy you want but aren’t allowed to have.

Not much fun, right?

While Halloween is probably not any pet’s favorite holiday, here are the top seven tips to follow to make it safe and comfortable:

1. Keep candy away from your pet. All candy is bad for your pet, and some kinds are toxic.
2. Choose comfortable pet costumes. Check out these ideas: Halloween Dogs of Instagram and Halloween Cats of Instagram.
3. Beware dangerous decorations like jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside or dry ice.
4. Stay visible while outside. If you take your dog on a walk during Halloween night, wear reflective clothing or strips, and carry a lantern or flashlight.
5. Help your pet to stay relaxed. Trick-or-treaters coming to the door can be scary for pets. Ways to calm your pet are to give them their favorite treats and toys, provide a safe space away from the front door, and give them plenty of affection.
6. Put a collar with ID tags on your pet and consider microchipping. With opening doors and outdoor fun, it can be easier for your pet to get lost.
7. Keep cats indoors. During trick-or-treating, consider giving your cat their own space in a closed-off room. If you sit outside on your porch or driveway with candy for the kids, you can avoid opening the door altogether.

Halloween Fun for Your Pet

In 2022, 78% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween. It’s an undoubtedly popular holiday! And it’s natural to want to share the celebration with your pet.

• Cuddle on the couch to watch a scary movie. Don’t worry, your pet won’t be spooked, but they will be there to comfort you!
• Get a new Halloween-themed toy for your cat or dog.
• Play Hide-n-Go-Treat. No tricks, just treats! Hide your pet’s favorite treat and see how long it takes for them to sniff it out.
• Include your dog on your family’s outing to the pumpkin patch. Just call ahead to make sure a leashed pet is OK.

Halloween starts the fall and winter holiday season. Check out our Holiday Pet Safety resources for guidance on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

November 16, 2021

Holiday Travel is Surging in 2021 – How Does This Affect Your Pet?

A Deloitte Holiday Travel Survey of 6,512 Americans found:

“Americans are hitting the road and heading to airports. 42% will travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January. Two-thirds of travelers will fly and/or stay in paid lodging, while one-third will only drive to visit friends and relatives.

“For many, the holiday season means multiple trips to enjoy school or work breaks; Travelers are taking an average of two trips. For three in four, the longest trip will be a week or shorter. The season will get off to a fast start, with three in 10 trips slated for the Thanksgiving weekend.”

Here’s our guide to holiday travel with your pet– and when it might be best for your pet not to travel.

Roadtrips with Your Pet

Follow these tips if you’re planning a trip “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house…”

• Never leave your pet alone in the vehicle, whether the weather is hot, cold or seems nice. Parked vehicles quickly get too hot or cold, and this is deadly for animals (and people!)
• When stopping for meals, go to restaurants with drive-thru or carryout options, so you can eat in the car or at a rest area with your pet.
• Or, search for dog-friendly restaurants in the area you’re driving through. For instance, here are dog-friendly restaurants in Cincinnati.
• Pack for your pet– remember to include anything they might need for health and comfort, like medicines, food, water, water bowl, leash, collar, bed, blanket, etc.
• Ask your veterinarian what sort of car harness or restraint would be best for your pet.

It’s not particularly well known that driving between states with your pet is subject to requirements. The AVMA gives more detail:

“Interstate and international travel regulations require any pet you bring with you to have a health certificate from your veterinarian – even if you are traveling by car. Learn the requirements for any states you will visit or pass through, and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get the needed certificate within the timeframes required by those states.”

Flying with Your Pet

Flying with a pet is difficult and sometimes distressing or dangerous for the animal. First, decide if air travel is really the best option, or if you should plan for a pet sitter or boarding facility instead.

Each airline has their own pet policy, and these policies may change without notice. Before you book your flight, make sure you understand everything that is required. Then, before you leave for the airport, make sure you check the policies again.

Remember, your pet will need to eat, drink and use the bathroom while you’re in the travel process. Learn where your pet is welcome at each airport you’ll be stopping at.

Staying with Friends and Family with Your Pet

If your host is OK with you bringing your pet, also make sure they are OK with these guidelines:

• Don’t feed your pet, unless they ask permission first
• Don’t let your pet outside without you knowing about it
• Provide a safe and comfortable place for you pet to sleep
• Go through an introduction with your pet and any pets your host may have, to help them get comfortable with each other
• Allow you to pet-safe the pet’s environment, especially considering these Pet Holiday Safety Tips

Most of all, be a good guest. Make sure to take responsibility for your pet at all times. If you sense that your pet might not be welcome, respect that and make arrangements for a pet sitter or boarding facility.

Staying in Hotels or Lodging with Your Pet

Planning ahead is key if you plan to stay at a hotel, resort, AirBnB or campground with your pet. Before you book, make sure your pet will be allowed. After you book:

• Follow all pet policies the owner puts in place
• Try not to leave your pet alone in the lodging, as this will probably cause agitation
• If you need to leave your pet alone, make sure they are in a safe place like a crate. If you’re staying in a hotel, place the Do Not Disturb tag on the door and alert the front desk that your pet is in the room
• Always keep your pet on a leash in public or outdoor spaces
• Always clean up after your pet
• Make sure to bring or buy enough food for your pet
• Locate the nearest emergency veterinary hospital, even though you hope you won’t need it

If you’re planning a trip with your pet this season, we wish you safe and happy travels!

November 11, 2021

More Get-Togethers Mean More Opportunities for Risk to Your Pet

With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s and more coming up, many are planning get-togethers that they might have missed out on in 2020.

It’s exciting to be able to gather with family and friends! And let’s remember some important safety tips for our animal family that may have slipped our minds while we were social distancing.

Holiday Safety Tips for All Animals

Many think of the classic movie Christmas Vacation as a comedy. We view it as a cautionary tale for pet safety. Don’t be a Griswold– follow these tips.

• Decorating with live plants may be beautiful,  but it can also be deadly for curious animals. Poinsettia, holly and mistletoe are all poisonous
• Tape down electrical cords and wires to prevent your pet from chewing or becoming tangled in them
• Avoid using tinsel– it’s too tempting to chew on and ingest
• If you have salt dough ornaments, hang them high out of your pet’s reach. They are toxic
• Don’t leave candles burning when you leave the room
• If you have a live Christmas tree, cover the water bowl
• It’s easy for pets to escape when the door is opening to let guests in. Keep hold of your pets, and make sure their tags are up-to-date
• Make sure your guests know not to feed your pet anything from the table
• Make sure children know how to safely interact with your pet

Foods Toxic to Pets

There are so many “people foods” that cause toxicity in pets that they deserve their own list. You likely wouldn’t feed most of these foods to your pet on purpose, but your pet is always watching for dropped food while you’re cooking, cleaning up or eating.

Avoid letting your pet eat or drink:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Apple seeds – although apple slices are a great treat, the seeds contain cyanide
• Avocado
• Bones – cooked or raw
• Chocolate
• Caffeine
• Fruit pits
• Garlic, onions and chives
• Grapes and raisins
• Hops
• Nuts
• Milk and dairy
• Moldy foods
• Mustard seeds, powder or condiment
• Nicotine – make sure pets can’t access ashtrays
• Raw or undercooked meat, fish, eggs or bones – animals are susceptible to Salmonella and E. coli, just like people
• Salty snacks
• Xylitol – an artificial sweetener found in some gum, candy and vitamins
• Yeast dough

Holiday Safety Tips for Cats

Be especially aware of these cat-specific safety concerns.

• Cats especially need a quiet hideaway when lots of people are around. Make sure there’s a quiet room or place in your house where your cat can go that people can’t
• Lilies aren’t typically a huge part of winter celebrations, but remember that all lilies are extremely poisonous to cats
• Onions, garlic and chives are especially toxic for cats
• Green tomatoes and potatoes are also bad for cats

Holiday Safety Tips for Dogs

And dogs need special attention for their safety, too.

• Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Keep them away from your dog!
• Other especially toxic foods for dogs include macadamia nuts, hops and yeast dough
• Keep any fire starter logs away from dogs who tend to chew
• Dogs are notorious for being alarmed and worried by fireworks. Make a fireworks safety plan for your dog

Wow! There is a lot to remember about keeping your cat or dog safe during the holidays. But also remember to have fun and spend quality time with your pet! (Like you would ever forget that!)

November 16, 2020

Holiday Pet Safety Tips for Dogs and Cats

When it comes to Thanksgiving, overindulgence is often the order of the day for humans. And it’s natural to want to share the bounty with our furry family.

Food Safety Tips for Pets

Over-rich food can endanger cats and dogs, especially since Thanksgiving favorites are often made with ingredients that are toxic to pets.

Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest and can cause pancreatitis, a life-threatening condition for pets. For your pet’s health, don’t feed them turkey skin or other high-fat foods.

Also, many common ingredients are toxic to cats and dogs, like onions, raisins, garlic, grapes, nutmeg, chocolate, xylitol and more. Sweet potato pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and cakes– all of these are on the DO NOT EAT list for pets.

Party Safety Tips for Pets

While you may not be having a large Thanksgiving gathering this year, still be vigilant about these risks that pets face when any guest visits.

Watch for open doors and ways of escape. Pets can be very tricky when they want to get outside unnoticed, and they might sneak around a guest entering the house.

Keep food and alcohol out of your pet’s reach. Guests should be careful about where they set plates and cups. Also, make sure your pet isn’t able to get in the trash and find something dangerous to eat.

We know you’ll be thankful for your pet this Thanksgiving!

December 10, 2019

Wishing You Safe and Happy Holidays with Your Pet Family!

Keep your Christmas holly jolly by remembering these tips for keeping cats and dogs safe.

Decoration Safety

1. Put out candles if you are leaving the room
2. Tape down all electrical cords and wires
3. No tinsel around pets!
4. Cover the water bowl under the tree

Holiday No-No Foods

1. Chocolate
2. Alcohol
3. Bones
4. Onions and garlic
5. Grapes and raisins
6. Candy

Poisonous Plants

1. Poinsettia
2. Holly
3. Mistletoe
4. Lilies

Winter Pet Safety Tips

1. Antifreeze: Cold weather chemicals are a deadly poison for pets
2. Cooked Bones: Splintered bones from meat can cause fatal damage
3. Keep your pets away from human treats and candy
4. Watch your pets around holiday decorations

If you have any questions about these safety tips, please give us a call at (513) 829-8989.