In this blog, we've put together this guide to help you prevent emergency vet visits during the holidays.

 

Be sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date.

If you haven't recently updated your pet's vaccination record, now is the time! Pets need vaccines to prevent them from getting sick in the first place, and many of these vaccines must be administered periodically throughout an animal's life. The best time to get a pet vaccinated is when they’re young. If your pet isn't up-to-date on his or her shots, make an appointment with the vet immediately.

 

Make sure your pets are microchipped.

Microchips are tiny devices that can be implanted under a dog or cat's skin and provide identification information that is read by a scanner. Whether you're travelling or just going for a walk around the block, having a microchip for each of your pets can help ensure that they'll be returned to you if they get lost. Microchips are most effective when used in conjunction with identification tags, so ensure that your pet has both. 

 

Keep your pets safe from fleas and ticks.

Fleas and ticks carry several diseases that can be transmitted to humans and other animals through blood or saliva contact. To prevent this from happening, use topical treatments or oral medications prescribed by your vet. Of course, you wouldn't want to celebrate holidays with fleas and ticks, so make sure that you treat your pet regularly.

 

Don't feed your pets holiday foods.

You probably already know that feeding your pets holiday foods is bad, but you might not know why.

Let's start with the obvious: they're not made for your pets. While dogs love turkey and cats will try anything that smells like fish, these foods are not nutritionally balanced for your pet's dietary needs. This means they can be harmful to them in the long run.

But it gets worse: holiday foods can lead to serious health problems! If you give your dog turkey bones, they might choke on them or develop an obstruction in their intestines from swallowing too many at once. This can cause a life-threatening situation. You should also be aware that some holiday foods contain theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate and known to cause sickness or death in dogs.

 

Need a safe & fun place for your pet to stay during the holidays?

At Country Kennel, expect that your pet will have a stress-free & enjoyable stay. We will treat your pet as part of our family, making sure that they get plenty of playtime with other dogs during their stay. You can relax knowing that your pets are having a great time while you're away this holiday season!

Book your pet's boarding appointment now before we book up!