Posts in Category: Pet-Friendly Holidays

This time of year, most of us begin focusing on the upcoming holidays. Who will host? What dishes will we make? Is it too early to begin decorating (of course not!)? However, while our to-do lists may be long, holiday pet safety should remain a top priority.

No Feasting for Fido

Keeping pets out of all the delicious food is one of the chief concerns around Thanksgiving and other meal-centric holidays. It’s also important for owners to resist sneaking their fur pals a bite of turkey or gravy at the table. Not only do these habits pose a risk for poisoning, they also increase the possibility of gastrointestinal injuries/obstructions and pancreatitis, a potentially dangerous and painful condition.

If your pet loves wearing a costume and greeting gaggles of tiny princesses and superheroes at the front door, then Halloween is certainly as much fun for him or her as it is for the two-legged members of the family. This spooky time of year isn’t without its risks, however, even for those pets that enjoy all the festivities. Follow our Halloween pet safety tips to keep your four-legged pal safe and comfortable this year.

Treat Talk

Humans aren’t the only ones with a sweet tooth; pets find candy, cookies, and other treats just as irresistible as us. Most owners already know that chocolate is bad for dogs, but there are other potential dangers lurking in your child’s trick-or-treat bag. This includes Xylitol (an artificial sweetener that’s extremely toxic to dogs), raisins, and macadamia nuts. To be safe, stash all candy and treats out of reach of your fur friend.

During the holidays, many of us think of friends and family first and foremost. Those less fortunate also are never far from our thoughts during this season of gratitude and giving, of course, and even during our own holiday hustle and bustle we tend to smile more at strangers, bake for the neighbors, and even sometimes volunteer our time for a holiday charity.

Pet owners know that our pets give us unconditional love, and the holiday season seems like a perfect time to spread that love. Volunteering with your pet during the holidays is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others while spending quality time with your furry family.

Here are a few ways to get started!

If you are like most pet owners, you’re always on the lookout for new and interesting items for your pet. It is crucial to encourage play and problem solving at home, but that doesn’t mean all toys and games are fun or satisfying to your pet. In fact, many commercially available products have become sort of humdrum or lackluster, in part because you’ve already bought them for your pet. The pet industry continues to evolve and we’ve got the skinny on this year’s trending pet toys.

There is always a risk that traveling with pets can cause a little bit of stress for your furry friends. Flying with pets definitely presents its own set of challenges, but with a little bit of planning, this experience can be fun and safe for everyone.

For better preparations, add the following tips to your list, pronto!

It’s odd that the ways in which we celebrate the holidays are also responsible for negatively impacting pet health. Between the foods, guests, and routine disruptions, pets are inadvertently placed in the crosshairs. To counteract the effect that the seasonal holidays have on our ability to mitigate disaster, we offer this guide to holiday pet safety. The more you can stay in front of at home, the better. 

The holidays are a time for feasting, and many people loosen the reins on diet restrictions and enjoy the many delectable foods that can be found on holiday tables. As our pets also gather around the table and plead with you with their eyes to feed them, it can be easy to forget about how some human food can be harmful to your pets. Your friends at Dupont Veterinary Clinic want to help you figure out which foods to avoid giving to your pets this season:

It’s that special time of year that includes family time, fall hikes, and delicious Thanksgiving dishes. Unfortunately, it’s also that time of year that may include a scenario like this: the trash can on the floor, its contents all over the kitchen, leftover turkey carcass and bits of foil smeared everywhere.

As you clean up the mess, you may be wondering how much and what your pet ate. Instead of rushing to Dr. Google, please call us to ensure your pet’s safety!

While this scenario can occur at any time of the year, holidays like Thanksgiving definitely see an uptick in pets ingesting foods that can be harmful to them. To help you navigate the holiday, Dupont Veterinary Clinic wants to alert you to thanksgiving foods that can be harmful to pets, and give you some safe and healthy alternatives.

Most pet lovers have at least one beloved furry companion on Santa’s gift list. In fact, statistics show that over 90% of pet owners buy Fido or Fluffy gifts this time of year. That’s a lot of wrapping and bows! However, with all the amazing items to choose from, where do you begin finding the perfect gift for your best pal?

The team at Dupont Veterinary Clinic has you covered. Here are some of our favorite gift ideas, as well as some tips for avoiding disastrous pet presents.

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For many of us, the 4th of July is a holiday we look forward to all year. Friends, family, food, and fireworks make this summer event a beloved tradition that we can’t imagine doing without. Our pets, however, may feel differently. The loud noises, smell of smoke, and general chaos of this all-American celebration can create some major anxiety for our four-legged friends.

Fireworks displays aren’t the only thing pets have to worry about in the summer months. Storm season is upon us, too; and the same pets that are fearful of fireworks likely deal with anxiety surrounding the sounds and sights of a summer thunderstorm. Fortunately, there are lots of tools at our disposal for helping to reduce thunderstorm and firework anxiety in our pets. Continue…