We wanted to take a moment to thank you for choosing our hospital for your pet’s veterinary care. It is always our pleasure to see you in our office and to care for your pets. We are passionate about animal health and we appreciate your trust in our staff.
Our office will be closed Thursday, November 26, 2015. We are open for regular business hours on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, so while you’re out shopping don’t forget to stock up on your pet’s parasite preventives. We still have some awesome savings available for Advantage Multi, Nexgard & Heartgard, and Trifexis & Comfortis. Remember, just because it’s getting chilly does not mean the fleas will go away. It is important to protect our pets from parasites year-round in Florida. We also want to remind you about our Spay and Neuter special. You can still save 20% on these procedures, and a little birdie told us the special will be extended through December as well.
Please take a moment to read these important pet safety tips:
- Fatty foods: foods high in fat can cause inflammation of your pets pancreas, which can lead to pancreatitis. Keep your pet out of the kitchen during meal preparation and keep family members from sharing food with your pets. Consider having pet-friendly treats around for friends and family to give to your pets when they are begging. There are lots of great recipes for dog (and cat) treats using common ingredients that you may already have at home!
- Bones: Everyone knows dogs love bones, but that does not mean it is ok to give them bones from our delicious holiday meats. Chicken bones, turkey bones, ribs, etc, you name it, are all dangerous for our pets. They can cause choking or even internal bleeding. Please consider a safe alternative for your pet during the holidays, such as chewy “bones” that emulate the look and feel of actual bones. They are much safer and some even have dental health benefits.
- Grapes, Raisins, Currants, Berries: grapes, raisins, currants, and many berries are poisonous to our pets! Avoid stressful holiday emergency visits by keeping these far away.
- Onions, Chives, Leeks, Garlic: These foods are also toxic to our pets. The best way to avoid poisoning is by keeping our pets out of the kitchen and far away from the food on the table.
- Xylitol and artificial sweeteners: yet another toxic ingredient, keep these far away from your pets to avoid poisoning.
- Alcohol: we all want our pets to have fun with us, but our pets’ livers are far more sensitive than ours. Alcohol is poisonous to our pets and can cause comas, seizures, low blood sugar, and even death if not promptly treated. Alcohol is not only found in alcoholic beverages but also in unbaked bread dough and certain deserts.
- Make sure all food that falls on the ground is immediately picked up and thrown away, and be sure the trash is in a place where your pets cannot get into it. This will help you avoid a visit to the emergency vet and help your pets avoid lots of pain and stress. Please be advised that the items mentioned in this e-mail are not the only dangerous foods for our pets. If you would like to learn more, there is a lot of information on the internet about toxic foods. If your pet swallows any of these dangerous foods, immediately call the Pet ER at 407-273-3336.
Should you have a pet emergency on Thanksgiving day or during our closed hours, please call the Pet ER at 407-273-3336.
As you can see, there are a lot of dangers lurking in the household. Keep your pet safe by knowing the things that are harmful to them and making sure your family and holiday guests are on the same page. A great way to do this is to make signs (have the kids help!) displaying pet safety tips, and post them in your house where the guests are sure to see them. We want your pets to always stay safe and healthy. As much as we love to see you in our office, we don’t like to see your pets sick.
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
