“OMG – Fluffy ate an ornament, what should I do?” “Tiger just came home and was in a fight. He needs to be patched up – help!” “I just hit a dog on Washburn, what do I do?” “My cat keeps throwing up, is this serious?” When any of this happens, what do you do? Do you know Klamath County has an Animal Emergency Service (AES), to serve pets and pet owners throughout Klamath County with after hours emergencies…including finding out if your situation truly IS an emergency and needs immediate attention. Here’s some specifics you should know: AES Coverage Hours: 7pm – 8am, every night Participating Hospitals: The Happy…

Since I treat ALL sorts of animals, large and small, including exotics and pocket pets, I often get asked about this or that species. All animals are delightful (for someone), and often one or another species will attract you, while another species…not so much. That is to be expected, and as well individuals within a species have specific personality quirks, traits and needs. Just like you and I do. That is a big part of what makes bonding with our pets such a unique and meaningful experience. Always make sure that if you’re looking at an animal or species you haven’t experienced before, find out as much as you can…

#9. Make sure your animals’ immunizations are up to date   This is especially important if you are boarding them, or they are in situations where they may come into contact with new animals. Being fully vaccinated is sort of like defensive driving. You know your pet is healthy…but you need to watch out for the “other guy.” Having your animal fully vaccinated swings the odds way in their favor that even if they encounter an animal (domestic or wild) which is ill, your animal will remain happy and healthy to enjoy your holiday cheer. As with humans, the young and the old heave weaker immune systems, so the help…

#7. No food under the tree This tip maybe goes without saying, but we often get caught up in holiday festivities and gatherings, and it’s easy to forget. Or someone brings a cookie tin and it’s sealed so of course Rover can’t smell it or get into it. Wrong. Most any human food can cause gastric upset or worse with our pets. The severity depends on how much they consume, that it is they got into, and their overall condition (pets with sensitive stomachs, just like humans, need to eat in moderation). Because you can’t know if the raisins in that fruit cake or cookies are toxic or not, or…

6. Keep pets on their regular diet (aka give the goodies to Santa) As with our previous tip (about no food under the tree), this is a simple one that is sometimes hard to implement with all the holiday hubbub. And of course, those pleading eyes…”I am SUCH a good girl! Just one little bite. I promise I’ll stop begging if you give me just a taste…” Liar, liar, pants on fire. Begging pets are opportunists of the first order, so if you give in just once, they redouble their efforts because now you are (rightly) tagged as the “pushover.” As strange as it may sound, the easiest approach to…

5. Don’t ignore behavior changes and health related concerns Yes, the holidays are hectic. You are overbooked, and your schedule is filled up to the minute. You have a million things on your mind, and an ever-growing to-do list… Yet…something is not quite right with your pet. What do you do? Ignore it, pretend it will get better on it’s own. Or give your pet some attention and find out if it is something requiring medical attention, a little bit of quiet time or ??? While it is really tempting to ignore that little voice that says “Something is just not right with Willow,” the reality is that you know…

4. Avoid plants toxic to animals One of the most wonderful things about the winter holidays is the opportunity to bring vibrant colors into our homes and lives. Green trees. Red sweaters. Christmas cookies of all shapes and shades. Delightful foods spanning the rainbow. While any new plant has the possibility to produce upset tummies, some of the holiday favorite plants are more toxic than others. Lilies top the list, especially for cats. Lilies should never be brought into a household where they have a chance to be explored and ingested by a curious cat. Just one bite of a lily can bring on severe acute kidney failure in cats.…

3. Wipe and watch paws with all de-icers While some de-icers are advertised as safe around pets, the reality is that they still can potentially cause chemical irritation, especially for those pets with sensitive skin. If you’re going to have a de-icer on your own sidewalk, porch, etc. by all means get a pet friendly one. Even so, wipe their feet when they come inside, and watch to make sure they are not licking their feet (pads or fur), which would indicate an irritation. You may also want to invest in a set of waterproof booties, particularly when you are out and about with your pet and not sure what…

2. Keep to your pets’ normal routine as much as possible Crazy-making as the winter holidays can be, it’s important to remember that your pets can experience all the excitement and comings and goings quite differently. It’s important to keep them grounded, so they know they are loved and cared for, come what may. Whereas you are all excited about that great new dress you found for the company Christmas party, and you are so looking forward to the white elephant exchange, you dash out the door without giving them a pat…and you forgot to change the litter box. AGAIN. Your cats start looking for other places to do their…

1. Avoid the Christmas/Hannukah holiday puppy or kitty if at all possible. For ALL the reasons mentioned above, the holidays are a crummy time to bring a new pet home to live with you in their new forever home. In order to set your newest family member up for success, you need to set up simple routines for them that will keep them grounded and help them understand what is expected of them. Imagine you were toilet training a toddler. Sometimes you’d remember to take them to the toilet. Then you would forget and leave, and they would have not choice to but soil their pants, and then get in…