Spring Holiday Do’s and Don’ts for Your Pet

With all of the spring holidays coming up, finding ways to protect your pet from dangers and ensure they are healthy is important, just as it is any other time of the year. In order to provide your pet with the quality care they deserve and to protect their overall health and well-being, there are a few simple tips you should follow.

Make a Vet Appointment

If you will be traveling this spring, whether for a holiday celebration or for spring break, it’s important to have your pet checked by a veterinarian. This is true whether you plan to take your pet along for the ride or you will be boarding him. The veterinarian will ensure your pet is in good health and is up-to-date on vaccinations. They will also provide proper flea and tick prevention treatment to protect your pet outdoors.

Many dog boarding facilities require dogs receive the canine flu vaccine to protect against the spread of the highly contagious “dog flu”.  While new in the San Francisco Bay Area, an increasing number of cases are being reported. While symptoms vary, they are generally respiratory and afflicted animals can become severely ill. Learn more here.

Don’t Feed Them Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the deadliest things your pet can eat. When it comes to holidays like Valentine’s Day and Easter, chocolate is often at the top of the list of treats. While it is a wonderful choice for people, it can be sickening or even deadly for pets, both cats and dogs. Be sure to keep chocolate well out of their reach and seek help from your veterinarian if it is ingested.

Prepare Your Pet for Boarding

If you are unable to take your pet with you on a spring holiday trip, you will need to board them. Before you reach this point, it’s important to prepare your pet. Not only do you need to make sure they have the right vaccinations, but you will also have to acclimate your pet to being away from you. Touring the facility and leaving your pet with a friend or relative for a few hours can be a great way to test this, especially if they have pets of their own.

Research Before Buying Small Pets

Especially at Easter, parents are often tempted to buy small pets for their children as a gift. However, these pets are often treated as a novelty and begin to suffer from a lack of care after a short period of time when the child becomes bored with them. This is why it’s important to do your research and really think about buying a small animal as a gift before you take the decision lightly.

Monitor Your Pets Outside

As spring arrives, there are additional dangers outside you need to watch for with your pet. For instance, many people use spring as the ideal time to fertilize their lawns and use weed killers and other chemicals. These chemicals can be extremely dangerous to your pets. Consider bathing them often during this time of year to keep them from ingesting these chemicals. You should also keep an eye on them outside to save them from predators in the wild, especially if you have a small dog or cat.

Don’t Dye Their Fur

Turning your dog pink for Valentine’s day or a fun pastel color for Easter may sound like a great idea, but it can actually be harmful for your pet. The harsh chemicals used in dyes can dry out your pet’s skin and cause their fur to become brittle and dry. The dye can also enter their bodies through their skin, which can cause serious reactions that can actually be fatal. For this reason, it’s best to leave your pet the way he is, even for the holidays.

Contact Us

If you have questions about how to care for your pet, submit our website contact form below or call our Santa Rosa location at 707-595-3834 or our Rohnert Park location at 707-206-9000.

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