Holiday Foods Your Pooch Should Avoid At All Costs

While Christmas may be over, you still probably have your fair share of holiday guests coming through and it can be easy to let your dog wellness preparations fall by the wayside during this time of year. After all, with friends and family coming and going, your pooch may get lost in the shuffle as you try and get dinner on the table and make sure your guests are comfortable. Worse yet, your loved ones may not know what kinds of foods are hazardous to canines, so be sure to keep your eye out for the following foods and keep them away from your pet.

1. Sugarfree gum. Many of today's most popular brands of sugarfree gum contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts, according to PetEducation.com. It may cause a marked drop in blood sugar which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. While your friends and family probably won't be feeding your pooch sticks of gum, be sure to ask guests politely to close up their belongings and keep these sorts of products out of reach of your canine.

2. Cooked bones. While it may seem tempting to throw the leftover ham bone from your holiday dinner to the dog, this could cause a rash of health problems and may have to be removed surgically. A cooked bone has the chance of splintering during digestion, which can cause blockage or puncture his intestinal lining. Educate your guests about proper bone etiquette and encourage them to throw them away after eating. A good idea is to give your companion an uncooked bone before dinner so he'll have something to chew on and won't be inclined to beg for scraps.

3. Macadamia nuts. If you've whipped up a batch of delectable cooking, be absolutely sure that your pooch doesn't eat some of the leftover macadamia nuts. These nuts are known to cause muscle and central nervous system problems if ingested in large numbers, so be sure to keep them out of reach of your canine.

You have enough things to worry about during the holiday season, and a sick dog shouldn't be one of them! By educating yourself and your family with these simple pet care tips, you can ensure that your four-legged friend makes it through the holiday season without incident.

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Ticks Becoming An Increasing Problem In Northern States As Populations Continue To Thrive

While many dog owners are preparing for the winter weather and taking seasonal precautions, many of the bugs that you safeguard your dog against during the fall are hanging around much longer. Ticks have become an increasing problem for northern states which have experienced a rash of warm weather that has allowed the pets to linger. According to the Nashua Telegraph, there are a number of factors that play into the rise in fleas, further illustrating the need to use flea and tick products to prevent the spread of these parasites and the diseases they may carry.

In northern states, many of the animals that carry ticks, such as deer, moose, rodents and other fauna, have lost many of their natural predators. With the rising populations of these animals, it has lead to an increase in carriers for these insects, which allows them to disperse over a wider area. Of course, the warm weather has also contributed to the rise in tick populations, as the lack of cold weather that would normally eliminate their ranks has been hard to come by throughout much of the autumn.

With this in mind, fall is no time to fall behind on your tick prevention methods, and using topical drops is a fabulous way to provide a full spectrum of protection. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Drops are the ideal choice that is placed at the skin level between your canine's shoulder blades and down the length of his back to the tail. This will kill fleas and ticks on contact for up to 30 days and is a quick and easy monthly regimen that can give you peace of mind during any season.

Treating your yard against ticks is also a wise option during a wet and mild autumn. Hartz UltraGuard Yard and Kennel Spray attaches directly to your hose to treat the areas where ticks flourish, as well as the outdoor spaces where your pet spends the majority of his time. These simple regimens can be valuable tools in preventing the spread of fleas and ticks and improving your companion's overall well-being.

Dog-Proofing Your House For The Arrival Of Valentine's Day

After New Year's Day, the next biggest holiday on the calendar is Valentine's Day, which is quite possibly the most dangerous time of the year for dog owners. With the copious amounts of chocolates, decorations and other small items that are strewn about your home during this time of year, your canine could get curious and decide to investigate. Since many of these materials can cause a range of health problems, it's best that you take a few dog wellness preventative steps to eliminate any risk that can be cause by objects that are left out. Keep the following tips in mind to protect your pooch when Valentine's Day rolls around.

2. Store chocolate in a safe place. Chocolates are a common sight around Valentine's Day, and ingesting even a few of these tasty treats can cause severe digestive pain and side effects and can even lead to nervous system damage, according to PetEducation.com. If you receive candy or if you're planning on giving it to a loved one, be sure to keep it in a high cabinet or anywhere outside the prying eyes of your canine.

2. Be mindful of sugar-free sweets. Even if you're going the healthy route for the holiday, foods with artificial sweeteners could be even worse for your canine. Xylitol is an sweetener that is found in many gums and candies, and it could cause your dog's blood sugar to drop drastically as well as cause myriad digestive symptoms. In high enough doses, it can even cause liver failure, so these items should never be left out where your companion can get to them.

3. Glue and paper products. If you're going to be making some homemade Valentine's cards for your friends and family, be sure to clean up everything afterwards to ensure that nothing is potentially ingested by your furry friend. Dogs won't think twice about chowing down on a piece of construction paper or chewing on a glue stick, so be sure to thoroughly clean up and give him an uncooked bone to work on while you're making holiday preparations.

Valentine's Day should be a time of spending time with your significant other, not worrying about your dog. Taking these steps will ensure that your pooch is happy and healthy throughout the holiday.

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