{"id":4581,"date":"2015-12-11T19:27:29","date_gmt":"2015-12-11T19:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=4581"},"modified":"2015-12-11T19:28:27","modified_gmt":"2015-12-11T19:28:27","slug":"5-simple-steps-to-keep-pets-healthy-over-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=4581","title":{"rendered":"5 Simple Steps to Keep Pets Healthy Over the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo:

Photo: \u00a9 annaav – Fotolia.com<\/p><\/div>\n

(StatePoint) When making holiday plans, consider your pets\u2019 health needs. Here, five veterinary experts weigh in on steps to keep pets happy and healthy amid the hubbub.<\/p>\n

Resist Those Pleading Eyes<\/strong>
\nAccording to veterinary nutritionist Dr. Dottie LaFlamme, high-calorie tidbits contribute to caloric overload and bad habits, while lacking necessary nutrient balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust one teaspoon of beef fat can contain almost twice the calories a small dog should consume in daily treats,\u201d LaFlamme notes, adding that feeding from the table also promotes begging behavior. \u201cIf you must give pets a treat, feed it in their bowl after the meal to help with portion control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Avoid Holiday Hazards<\/strong>
\nThe holidays can be toxic to pets. Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common accidents during the holidays, according to veterinary critical care specialist and toxicologist Dr. Justine Lee. Other food foes include grapes, raisins, bones, unbaked yeast bread dough, alcohol and xylitol, a common sugar substitute.<\/p>\n

Likewise, \u201cPotpourri liquid contains detergents that can cause severe ulcers and burns in a cat\u2019s mouth, while tinsel can act as a severe linear foreign body when stuck in a cat\u2019s stomach and intestines,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re hosting, ensure houseguests pet-proof pill bottles.<\/p>\n

Take Preventive Measures<\/strong>
\nOwners often experience a false sense of security about parasite prevention when the weather turns cooler. However, the holidays are no time to take a break from heartworm prevention, even though heartworms are spread by infected mosquitoes, says veterinary parasitologist Dr. Patricia Payne. Why? Because preventives work retroactively on heartworm larvae acquired earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no way to accurately predict past or future transmission, so the American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm prevention for dogs and cats,\u201d she explains. \u201cMake sure to put a reminder on your holiday calendar to give routine monthly preventives to pets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Give the Gift of Activity<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhen we removed hunting from pets\u2019 daily lives, we reduced their physical and mental activity,\u201d explains veterinary behaviorist Dr. Jacqueline Neilson. \u201cWhen pets lack mental stimulation, they can become bored and depressed, and often create their own stimulating activities, such as chewing items or barking at passersby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beat this concern with food puzzles and toys that require pets to work, play or \u201chunt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider your pet\u2019s personality when choosing holiday gifts,\u201d says Neilson. \u201cIf your dog likes to chew things, a food toy that needs to be squeezed between the jaws may be ideal. Herding breeds may prefer a toy they can nudge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Travel Prep<\/strong>
\nAn estimated 30 million people travel with their pets annually, and holidays are primetime for hitting the road. Flying? Check your airline\u2019s pet requirements. For car travel, invest in a carrier.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour pet will appreciate a safe haven while traveling,\u201d says Dr. Robert Stannard, who recommends adding a favorite blanket to provide a sense of familiarity.<\/p>\n

Travel bowls, favorite toys and medications are necessities, not luxuries. Just be careful not to overfeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike us, pets can get motion sickness,\u201d says Stannard. \u201cDon\u2019t feed your pet right before leaving, and limit food during travel to help prevent digestive upset.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a few precautionary measures, your four-legged family members can have a happy, healthy holiday season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(StatePoint) When making holiday plans, consider your pets\u2019 health needs. Here, five veterinary experts weigh in on steps to keep pets happy and healthy amid the hubbub. Resist Those Pleading Eyes According to veterinary nutritionist Dr. Dottie LaFlamme, high-calorie tidbits contribute to caloric overload and bad habits, while lacking necessary nutrient balance. \u201cJust one teaspoon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web-exclusive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4583,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4581\/revisions\/4583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}