Article By Nanette Wiser
Veterinarians from Essentials PetCare, a veterinary clinic for preventative and minor illness care, located within select Walmart stores are encouraging pet owners to keep the safety of their pets in mind as they celebrate this winter.
Never give left over bones to pets, as bones can cause multiple, serious oral and gastrointestinal problems. It’s best to not feed pets table scraps, especially foods that have high fat content, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs.
If pets are likely to wander, consider keeping them crated or in a locked room while guests are coming and going, as guests don’t always think about a pet’s safety and doors can be unintentionally left open. Many veterinarians report seeing an uptick in pets being hit by cars around the holidays. Additionally, making sure your pet is micro-chipped, and that their microchip’s contact information is up to date, is also highly recommended.
Do not give pets avocados, chocolate, garlic, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions or food containing artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which are harmful and toxic to pets. For more dangerous foods to avoid, visit ASPCA Poison Control at www.aspca.org.
Consider signing up for pet insurance, which can facilitate decision making that is in the pet’s best interest reducing the concern of affordability in the event of an emergency.
Most importantly, see a primary care veterinarian regularly and talk with your veterinarian about these things. Your veterinarian will be happy to help you plan for your pet’s future and can also help with identifying potential threats before they become too costly to treat.