7 Ways to Make the Holidays Safer for Pets: Holiday Pet Safety Crash Course

​Nothing can spoil holiday cheer like an emergency visit to a veterinary clinic. These seven tips can help prevent a holiday disaster with your pets.

7 Ways to Make The Holidays Safer for Pets

1. Keep people food out of the reach of your pet, and ask your guests to do the same.

2. Make sure your pet doesn't have any access to treats, especially those containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions or other toxic foods.

3. Don't leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, a decorated tree or potpourri.

4. Keep holiday plants (especially holly, mistletoe and lillies) out of reach of pets.

5. Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat.

6. Secure your Christmas tree to keep it from falling over if your dog bumps it or your cat climbs it. Hanging lemon-scented car air fresheners in the tree may deter your cat from climbing it.

7. Provide a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement (such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place) if you’re entertaining guests. If your pet is excitable or scared, consider putting your pet in another room with some toys and a comfortable bed.

Plan in advance

Make sure you know how to get to your 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic before there's an emergency. Talk with your veterinarian in advance to find out where you would need to take your pet, and plan your travel route so you're not trying to find your way when stressed. Always keep these numbers posted in an easy-to-find location in case of emergencies:

• Your veterinarian's clinic phone number

• 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic

• ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 1-888-426-4435 (A fee may apply.)

If you’re a client of ours at River Landings Animal Clinic, additional numbers to make note of are:

• Animal ER - (941) 355-2884

• Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance - (941) 592-5131

• 24/7 Pet Poison Control Center - (855) 764-7661

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Dr. Bonda on Zinc Poisoning in Birds (on ABC's Animal Outtakes)

DR. BONDA ON ZINC POISONING IN BIRDS

Did you catch Dr. Bonda on ABC’s television show “Animal Outtakes” on December 25th, 2021? If not, no worries. Watch Dr. Bonda and Abby’s story below or at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xdx4yKDrqk

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Holiday Gift Guide for Pets & Pet Parents

The holiday season brings about a rush of checking-off shopping lists, planning meals, and lots of celebrating. When you’re making your holiday gift list, don’t forget the furry friends you love so much!

Here is our gift guide for the pets and pet parents in your life:

Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are great for first time pet parents with a new pet because it allows them to explore what their pets like or dislike as far as toys and treats go.

For Dogs: BarkBox

BarkBox is a monthly subscription box for dogs that is tailored to your dog’s size and/or chewing style (see more info on their super chewer boxes for the more lovable, destructive doggos). Each month BarkBox  puts together a themed box of products that is entertaining for both the pets and their pawrents.

You can purchase the BarkBox one time or go for a full subscription.

For Cats: Meowbox

Not only do your felines get toys and treats in every subscription, but the box everything comes in turns into its own toy (because cats always prefer the box to the thing you got them). Meowbox delivers monthly or bi-monthly. 

You can purchase the Meowbox as a gift for 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months on their website.

Pet Portraits

Over at Crown & Paw, they offer a large variety of portrait options for a reasonable price. Just send in a photo of your pet facing forward and they superimpose their face right into a portrait or onto clothing like socks!

The Admiral for your bossy pets

The Princess for the spoiled pets

The Noble for pet’s that have a chip on their shoulder

The Step Brothers for fans of the movie

The American Gothic for the art school grad

Bathing Tools

Bathing a pet can be stressful, but it’s a necessary task for a lot of owners.

If their pet hates bath time (or their owner does) but desperately needs it, the Aquapaw bathing tool can help. It hooks up to a shower, bath tub, or outdoor hose to rinse shampoo from the pet’s coat as they’re being scrubbed, cutting down on total bathing time. Other great ideas include a jar of peanut butter and Aquapaw’s Slow Lick Mat that sticks to a wall for easy distraction.

Bathing Tool available on Amazon

Slow Lick Mat available on Amazon

Did you know? When dogs lick into something, pleasure endorphins are released in their brain, helping them calm down. Lick mats can soothe your best bud in stressful situations like nail clipping sessions, scary trips to the vet, and bath time. By deflecting your pet’s attention to licking and eating, it makes them less prone to bark or chew on furniture.

Custom Clothing & Accessories

Who doesn’t want fun clothing with their pet’s face on it?

From socks to pajamas, t-shirts to totes, there are a wide range of options for creating custom clothing and accessories with your loved one’s favorite pet’s face on it. All you have to do is supply a clear photo of the dog, cat, bird, or even fish and your friend or family member receives a fun way to show off their pet.

Pet-Sitting Services

Does your gift recipient love to travel but struggle with finding someone to take care of their pet while they’re gone?

Gift them pet-sitting services! If you’re able, you can provide these services yourself for a low-cost gift. Or, if you don’t live nearby or otherwise can’t provide the pet-sitting yourself, gift them a few days’ worth of services either from a sitter they trust or one you find.

Cooling Dog Mat

If you’re in Florida like us, it’s almost always summer weather. Keep your pup cool during those extra warm days with a cooling dog mat. You don’t have to spend a lot for a cooling mat, either. We found options under $30 on Amazon.

Furbo Dog Camera

We recommend the Furbo Dog Camera, which is a full on camera with two way communication and also dispenses treats, makes for a great gift for the pet parent that can’t always be home.

With Furbo Dog Camera, your dog will feel like you’re there, even when you’re not. This camera not only lets you see and talk to your canine companion, but it also allows you to toss treats to them when you’re not home. Used by over 5,000 vets and professional dog trainers, this camera is designed to help keep your pup safe and happy. It has night vision, a 160-degree wide-angle view day and night, a barking alert that detects when your dog is barking and can record videos.

Plaque and Tartar Fighting Dental Dog Treats

We offer a variety of dental dog treats from Greenies to OrvoVet Chews, depending on if your pet prefers something more or less crunchy.

With a unique texture that fights plaque and tartar down to the gum line, Greenies are powerful dental chews that come vet-recommended for deliciously easy at-home oral care. They’re made from natural ingredients that are easy to digest and fortified with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to promote overall good canine health.

Vet tip: Greenies can cause some GI upset (diarrhea, vomiting) in some pets, but are well-tolerated for the most part, and they are on the list of approved products from the veterinary oral health council.

Calming Donut Dog Bed

For the anxious pup or one that just loves their sleep, consider gifting them the Calming Donut Dog Bed. The soft and plush fabric and donut shape satisfies the nesting instinct of dogs who tend to curl up when they sleep.

You can find variations of the bed on Amazon or at most places where dog beds are sold.

Ice Cream for Dogs

Yes, you read that right. Ice cream for dogs! Simple ingredients that use lactose free milk so that their tummies don’t get upset. Just add water and freeze!

Puppy Scoops Ice Cream Mix for Dogs

Give the Gift of Peace of Mind

Gift certificates to the veterinarian are a great option for pet parents that are stressed or strapped for money this year as prices rise. Consider giving them the gift of peace of mind for their pet’s annual exam, special diet food, or a rainy-day fund towards an emergency.

Moving Cat Toy

Engage the natural predator in every feline with this moving toy that doesn’t include your participation. Cat not interested in mice-shaped toys? They offer a variety of attachments to change it up.

Available on Chewy

If you are considering buying a pet any type of interactive toy, we suggest avoiding these:

• Balls with single air holes (these can create a dangerous suction trap)

• Squeaker toys (unless closely monitored)

• Sticks and stones (may splinter or become lodged in throat or stomach)

• Heavily dyed toys

• Toys treated with fire retardants or stain guard

• Soft plastics

• Feather toys

• Balls with bells inside

• Toys with plastic inside

Both dogs and cats use toys for comfort, to carry, shake, and roll around with, so the toys you purchase should be interactive yet appropriate for their playstyle and appropriate for their size – you wouldn’t give a teacup chihuahua the same toy you’d give a newfoundland and you surely wouldn’t give that same toy to your cat!

It’s imperative to understand the risks toys pose of ingestion, choking, stomach obstruction, containment of toxic materials, and more. While it’s a federal requirement that products consumed by humans are regulated and inspected for safety, it’s not a requirement for animal products. Exercise caution when purchasing Christmas gifts for your pets, and be sure to supervise their play once you’ve gifted it to them.

The brands/products contained within this article have no affiliation with River Landings Animal Clinic, and their presence should not be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation by our veterinarians unless otherwise stated (see: Greenies or Orvo Dental chews).

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How to Stop a Cat From Biting

When you think of a cat, your initial image may be of a soft, peaceful animal purring quietly in your lap like a little furry engine of contentment. Unfortunately though, cats can pack a painful bite. Hopefully your cat keeps to biting only toys and food, but if your cat starts biting you, there’s usually a reason for it.

Why Do Cats Bite?

Cats need daily predatory play, which includes the opportunity to grab, pounce, and sink their teeth into something to simulate killing. A happy cat is one that thinks they've killed something every day. Because of this, movement triggers a predatory instinct and can cause a cat to pounce on an ankle or foot.

Another common reason cats bite is that the behavior was unintentionally reinforced when they were kittens. When cats are kittens, their job is to sharpen their hunting skills. Those skills include movements called the “pounce and bite” and the “grab and bite.” To practice those skills, a kitten needs something to bite, and it shouldn’t be your hand. While a kitten’s nip may not draw blood, their teeth will get bigger and their jaws will get stronger. If cats don’t learn that it’s inappropriate to bite people while playing as kittens, it’s only natural they’ll keep biting as cats.

While cats are very expressive creatures, they can’t come right out and tell you in that they’ve got a toothache or that arthritis is making their back hurt, so their biting could also be a way of letting you know there’s a medical issue. Cats are very good at hiding when they’re in pain, so when they finally do bite, things may have gotten pretty painful. If your cat suddenly starts biting you, take them to a vet.

Some cats also bite because of something called redirected aggression, which can occur in humans too. A human may have a bad day at work then come home and yell at their wife, while a cat may see another cat outside through the window, which can be very upsetting to them, and they take it out on whoever’s near them.

Owners are likely to describe it as biting out of the blue as they had not seen the episode that originally upset the cat, only the cat’s delayed reaction to it. If your cat does bite, take the wound seriously. More than with dog bites, the bacteria in cats’ mouths can lead to difficult-to-treat infections.

How to Stop a Cat from Biting (And Train a Kitten Not to)

If your vet has ruled out any medical explanation for biting, make sure your cat has a daily outlet for predatory playing. Every human should play with their cat for ten minutes every day with a feather or cat nip toy so they can ‘kill’ it". This daily play therapy will let your cat express that innate drive to kill.

Experts agree that playing appropriately with kittens using toys will help prevent them from biting people as adult cats. Kittens will naturally try to bite you while playing and when they do, don’t reprimand them, simply turn away and stop playing with them. This mimics what a mother cat would do if play got too aggressive. You’re teaching them social boundaries that if they play too hard, you’ll get up and walk away.

This action is a lot like giving your kitten a “time out,” as you might do with a child. The technique also works for adult cats, as they’ll quickly realize that if they bite, their favorite person (you) will disappear. Leave the room, if only for a few seconds, then return to your cat.

Don’t reprimand your cat by squirting it with water or using a shock mat, as those things may make the situation even worse.

Negative reinforcement may raise the anxiety level even more and cats remember things very well and they can link the bad experience, like being squirted with water—with you. They’ll think you are the one creating painful and awful things and act even more out of fear and aggression, or they’ll just hide from you all the time.

When a cat bites, they’ve often tried to warn the person they’ve bitten that they’re about to do so. You usually can tell that a cat is agitated by their body language. Behavior that says “back off” includes tail thrashing, pinned-back ears, dilated pupils, and hissing and growling. Hair standing up on their back and whiskers facing forward can also be signs of agitation.

If your cat bites you aggressively and your vet finds no pain trigger for the behavior, a veterinarian who specializes in feline behavior may try treating the cat with supplements, medication, a change in diet or a combination of all three. The treatment will hopefully reduce anxiety that may be causing your cat to bite, and then he or she can return to strictly chomping toys and treats — not people.

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How to Bunny Proof Your Home

Rabbits are curious pets that not only need a lot of space to roam and explore outside of their cage but also tend to get into things they shouldn't. By bunny proofing your home, your rabbit can explore their domain without getting into trouble.

Flooring & Baseboards

Rabbits love to dig so expect that any ground surface that will allow them to do so will be dug. Unfortunately, for many bunny lovers, this means their carpeting is the victim of their bunny's behavior.

Area rugs, carpet, and carpet padding are all attractive digging items for your rabbit so if you have them in the room you designate for your rabbit's playtime or home, it is very likely that they will be ruined. If you are okay with this likely potential, then that's fine (just make sure they aren't actually eating what they dig up).

If you want to avoid the mess and possible fiber ingestion, choose a room for your bunny that has a non-porous, easy-to-clean surface instead. Linoleum, tile, and laminate flooring are popular choices for bunny owners since they can't be dug into, don't absorb urine, and won't stain.

Baseboards are another concern for chewing rabbits, namely all rabbits. Wooden baseboard corners and edges seem to scream to be chewed on by your rabbit. If these can be avoided in the room where your rabbit roams that is ideal, but if not, you should cover or protect the baseboards to avoid them being destroyed.

Some rabbit owners make custom baseboard protectors by using pieces of wood with hinges that stand up to block the boards. You can use wire and plastic storage cube pieces that snap together and lean up against the wall, short pieces of wooden fence pickets individually attached with removable adhesive pieces (i.e. Command™ strips) so they can be replaced as needed, and other creative protective options. Some people simply line the entire room with playpen sections to protect the walls, corners, doors, and baseboards. Plastic corner protectors that attach with adhesive are also useful for baseboard corners.

If you have carpeting that has been chewed or is especially vulnerable to being chewed (corners that lift up) try placing furniture, litter boxes (if your rabbit is litter box trained), area rugs, or mats meant to be chewed by rabbits on those spots. This will not only hide the area but potentially keep them from chewing it.

Doors

If you don't use metal baby gates to keep your rabbit contained, then you probably have wooden doors that do the job instead. Rabbits will chew the bottoms and corners of these doors so in order to protect them you can put a kick plate the very bottom of them. A kick plate can also be helpful in covering up previous rabbit damage on the bottom of a door. Also, be sure to remove the door stop if it is at the bunny's level and instead utilize one at the top of the door or install a door handle wall guard.

Electrical Cords and Outlets

Cords and wires are not only things that are hard to replace on lamps and electronics but they are also extremely dangerous to your bunny if they are chewed.

WARNING

Electrical shocks and burns are seen in rabbits that chew on wires. Death is possible from the initial electrocution or side effects of the damage it does to the mouth.

Make sure all electrical cords and wires are out of reach of your rabbit. Utilize ceiling lights whenever possible or keep lamps on a table. Protect cords with plastic cord protectors, flex tubing (corrugated plastic tubing), or PVC pipe if you absolutely cannot avoid a cord being in the room with your rabbit but you should do everything you can to keep your rabbit from having access to electrical cords. Use a baby electrical outlet plug to make sure your rabbit doesn't try to chew the outlet opening as well.

Furniture

Furniture legs are often the victims of rabbit teeth just like baseboards. They come in so many different shapes and sizes so you may have to get a little creative with coming up with an option to protect them. Flex tubing is a popular choice to slide onto furniture legs since it is flexible and comes in different diameters.

Large PVC piping is another protective option or you can use temporary chewing alternatives like toilet paper and paper towel tubes to slide onto thin table legs and provide your rabbit with something to shred. Other creative options include plastic flower pots, bed leg risers (turned upside down) or protectors (such as Bed Boots™), and plastic furniture corner protectors. You may have to make something to fit the furniture legs in your home if you can't find something to slide over them.

Plants

All plants should be off the ground and out of your rabbit's reach but ideally, the room your bunny frequents shouldn't have any houseplants at all. While there are some safe plants, some plants are toxic to rabbits if they eat them and potted plants will just be dug up and make a mess so there are really no good reasons to keep them where your bunny is.

Provide Chewing Options

The best thing you can really do to bunny proof any room is to make sure a variety of chewing options are available to your rabbit at all times. Of course, they will always chew what you don't want them to chew (unless you train them not to) but if they have things they can chew they will be less likely to chew a baseboard, door, or table leg.

Make Items Taste Bad to Your Bunny

Bitter sprays (such as Grannick's Bitter Apple spray) can also be a useful chewing deterrent for items you can't protect. Spray this regularly on fabric furniture, decor, area rug edges, and other items to help discourage your bunny from chewing them by making these items taste bad. There are also lotion or cream options if you need something other than a spray.

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