Health Tips

Winter Safety Tips

• Rich Food: During the winter holidays, your pet may have access to more rich foods than usual. Some of them are extremely dangerous such as grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts. If your pet eats any of these foods, please contact Us right away for advice and care.
• Chocolate: One of the most dangerous treats for your pet is chocolate. This substance is delicious for us, but it contains an alkaloid called theobromine that’s toxic for them. If your pet consumes chocolate, it should be treated as an emergency situation.
• Antifreeze: Some people use antifreeze during the winter months, but this toxic chemical could be deadly if swallowed by a pet. Be sure to clean up all spills and store antifreeze out of reach. Any ingestion of antifreeze is an emergency and should be dealt with immediately.

Spring Safety Tips

• Slug Bait and Compost: Both of these items can be toxic to pets if ingested, so please try to use pet-safe products and limit your pet’s access to any of these potentially dangerous products.
• Lilies: If ingested, lilies are very toxic to pets—especially cats—and can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and even liver failure, so be sure your pets don’t have access to this plant either outdoors or indoors.
• Loud noise anxiety: Pets with loud noise (thunder, fireworks, etc.) anxiety can respond in a number of ways. If your pet has loud noise anxiety, consider medication or a Thundershirt to alleviate their apprehension.

Summer Safety Tips

• Heatstroke: If you plan to leave your pet outdoors for more than just a few minutes, leave plenty of food and fresh water for them to prevent the risk of heatstroke. Make sure there’s a shelter area for them to rest as well, and as with every season, bring your pet indoors during inclement weather.
• Hurricanes: To be prepared, have plenty of food, bottled water, and other necessary supplies packed in advance, in case an evacuation is ordered. Make sure your pet is updated on their vaccinations has adequate identification as well.
• Sago Palms: Sago palms are common in Florida and can be deadly to pets if ingested—especially the seeds, which are the most toxic. If ingested, this plant can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or worse, so if you have a curious pet who likes chewing plants, make sure they don’t have access to any sago palms.

Fall Safety Tips

• Travel: If you’ll be traveling with your pet for the holidays, and your pet has motion sickness, let us know so we can recommend treatment. If you’ll be flying to your destination, make sure to check your airline’s website for their pet policy (carrier dimensions, fees, health certificates, etc.)
• Holiday Décor: Our homes are often brightened with beautiful décor during and after the holidays, but some of these are dangerous for our pets. Tinsel can cause intestinal obstructions if consumed, and lit candles can cause severe burns if knocked over.
• Lawn Fertilizer: Many fertilizers contain pesticides or heavy metals, which can pose a toxic risk to pets, either by ingestion or just rolling in the grass. Read your fertilizer labels carefully so you’ll know how long to wait before letting your pet back on the lawn, or consider using pet-friendly lawn care products instead.