Holiday Tips from your Favorite Mobile Veterinarian:
Spay Neuter Express!

If you are preparing for a festive holiday season, make sure your pet enjoys it too -- instead of spending it at the animal clinic after a mishap. Many of our holiday traditions hardly register on us as threats to our animals, but here are a few things to watch out for:

Food and drink. Are you baking with the sugar-substitute xylitol? If so, keep your dog away from anything containing this substance, as it can cause a fatal insulin reaction. Chocolate is also highly toxic to both cats and dogs. Steer your pet clear of alcoholic drinks and cirtrus fruits as well.

Decorations. Pets love to play with holiday decorations, but “playing” often means chewing or eating, so avoid decorating the lowest part of your tree or parts of your home. Chewing on wiring can cause electrocution, while ingesting tinsel could damage your pet internally. Certain holiday plants such as holly and mistletoe can prove toxic to animals.

Weather. You may have an outdoor pet most of the year, but when the weather turns cold, prepare a nice warm “nest” for your pet and keep lots of water and food on hand. If your pet is staying in the garage, make sure there are no puddles of oil, anti-freeze or other toxins there. Also, do not let your pet play out in the cold for more than brief periods at a time.

Trouble? Call Our Animal Clinic!

If your pet does swallow something harmful or have an accident, please contact our mobile veterinarian so we can provide immediate treatment if necessary. But in the hopes that you will not need any such services, we wish all of our patients and their owners in Grand Haven, Lowell, Grand Rapids, Alma, Ionia, Lansing, Allegan, Douglas and Everett the happiest -- and safest -- of holiday seasons.

Has your dog or cat ever done something outrageous (though not necessarily dangerous) to make your holiday season especially, well, memorable? Share your stories with us!