It’s time for rich, sumptuous holiday foods and treats. Yum! The anticipation of delicious meals, plates of cookies, and festive tables laden with special foods has most Americans jumping for joy. But planning for all the festivities of the season seldom includes thinking about holiday food dangers for pets, until they present a medical emergency. 

Nothing ruins a holiday celebration faster than a trip to the emergency veterinary hospital! Your team at Parkside Animal Hospital is here to help you avoid the risks to your pets this holiday season.

When you have older pets with a little grey around the muzzle, it’s good to remember that, while dying isn’t optional, suffering can be. This means that senior pets can live active, happy, and pain free lives into their golden years and beyond. Your veterinarian can help make this a reality. 

What is a Senior Pet? 

Generally speaking, your pet is a senior at the age of 7. This varies to some degree with species and breed. Your veterinarian can determine when your pet falls into the senior life stage, one reason that preventive care exams annually is so important. 

For the vast majority of pet owners, their furry companions are members of the family and our best friends. It comes as no surprise that there is nothing quite so heart wrenching as the loss of a pet. Even though we know we won’t outlive them, the loss of a familiar face, their presence in our home, and their unconditional love can be nothing short of devastating. 

Unfortunately, our society doesn’t take the loss of a pet so seriously and it can feel alienating to take the time you need to grieve and process. At Parkside Animal Hospital, we’ve found that finding a way to memorialize your pet can be an important step on the path to peace and comfort during this difficult time. 

If you need some pet memorial ideas, we’ve compiled a few for your consideration. 

Humans are wonderful story tellers. Since ancient times, we’ve created myths and legends – some of which are believable, and some of which are clearly ridiculous. because dogs have been our constant companions for 12 to 15 thousand years, it stands to reason that some myths have been created about them, too, including those related to breed. 

It may be 2019, but there are still plenty of dog breed myths out there to confuse and misinform well intentioned dog owners. Let’s take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about dog breeds. 

Although we may wish for it, there is no poop fairy to clean up after our pets. This responsibility of pet ownership falls squarely on our shoulders. Aside from making us a good neighbor, scooping the poop of our furry pals helps to keep the environment cleaner and prevent disease as well. 

Parkside Animal Hospital gives you the lowdown on why scooping the poop is important. 

Ask any cat owner and they’ll quickly confirm that cats are the perfect pets. They’re interesting, captivatingly beautiful, clever, fun, and snuggly to boot. Indoor-only cats are arguably healthier than ones allowed to roam, but they can definitely suffer the consequences of their static environment. Yes, they can become bored. 

The best thing an owner can do for their fluffy best friend is to give them the best of both worlds. Build a catio, and watch your cat become the happiest, most fulfilled (and safest) version of themselves!

Without a doubt, there’s a unique bond between kids and pets. From teaching empathy and social skills to encouraging physical activity, there are a number of ways pets can be good for children. In fact, most kids and their pets are best friends for life.

However, while kids and pets may be a natural match, that doesn’t mean you should leave them to their own devices. Accidents happen, even among the most well-behaved children and animals, so it’s important to take steps to ensure that all interactions are happy and safe.

It’s hard to resist the pleading eyes or imploring whines from your furry best friend – especially when you’re eating or preparing something utterly scrumptious. While it may be your natural inclination to share the best things in life with your pet, giving them certain people foods can have terrible consequences. The good news is that you can avoid a pet poisoning and still shower them with love with healthy alternatives.

You’ve talked to your family and you’re ready to adopt a new pet! Of course, your first thought is to check out your local shelter, and we couldn’t agree more. Shelters and rescue organizations have many loving and wonderful pets of every size, shape, and personality just waiting for their forever home.

But adopting a shelter pet is most successful if a little planning and preparation takes place before you set foot in the actual building. So let Parkside Animal Hospital be your guide as you begin to navigate adopting a shelter pet.

Some cat owners grapple with the decision to restrict their cat’s exposure to the outside world. Many cats face early mortality or life-threatening injuries each year, so keeping them on the right side of the threshold is the safest choice. However, despite the fact that an indoor-only lifestyle is for their own good, it can feel like you’re limiting their opportunities for happiness. Luckily, with a little creativity and commitment, you can still keep them safe and cater to their needs.