Holiday tips to keep your pet safe, happy, and healthy

The holiday season is coming up faster each year, as evidenced by the simultaneous display of both Halloween and Christmas decorations at the retail stores. As we all prepare for our holiday travel and gatherings, it is important to keep our doggie friends in mind while making plans. The holidays will certainly bring them extra treats and more people to pet them, but there are also some hazards that we need to prepare to keep them safe, happy and heathy.


Halloween

The ghosts and goblins are not the only things that are scary for dogs on October 31st. Chocolate is toxic to dogs; it contains two ingredients, theobromine and caffeine, which affect canine central nervous systems. Please keep all candy out of the reach of your dog, remember – their reach is father than it appears when it comes to sniffing out a potential treat. Also, knocks on the door and ringing of doorbells may startle your friend, if you give out candy consider sitting outside your door and making an evening of it, which will also prevent your friend from running out the door unexpectedly.


Travel

If you are traveling and someone else will be caring for your doggie friend while away, please consider their grooming needs. Boarding facilities generally will not brush dogs as part of their normal service; if you brush your dog on a regular basis to prevent matting, ask them if they will do the same. Also, please consider in-home boarding using our partner BarksleyRVA.com. Their owners and managers have trained at Ridge Dog Shop to learn the brushing techniques needed to prevent matting in a variety of coat types. They will also walk and play with your friends on each visit to reduce their stress level of missing you.


Thanksgiving

The gathering of friends and family means more belly rubs and pets for our doggies, but some caution needs to be mixed in there as well. The smells of cooking food will sometimes temp every dog to the point where they make bad decisions, keeping hot food away from the edge of the counters will help prevent burns. Do not give your dog bones from poultry; cooked poultry bones are brittle and will splinter with a high potential of causing injury.  Caution your guests from providing human food to your doggie friend, sudden changes in diet, especially rich food (even in small amounts), can cause gastrointestinal distress in pets. If this occurs, the wonderful smell of the holiday meal may be overshadowed by a less than desirable smell.


Grooming needs

During the holiday season, more of our furry friends request to be groomed in preparation for holiday photos and gatherings. Our appointments are filled several weeks in advance of both Thanksgiving and Christmas; please consider making a holiday appointment now. In consideration for our team, we are closed on Thanksgiving weekend and the final week of December. 


Christmas

Christmas brings so much joy to the home! Before you begin Christmas decorating, please consider like beauty, “edible” is in the eyes of the beholder. In addition to the baked holiday treats on your counter, your dog may also consider decorations as edible; both mistletoe and holly can cause gastrointestinal upsetting and cardiovascular problems if ingested by pets. Wrapped Christmas gifts that contain food may keep the human recipient guessing, but not the dog; they can sniff out that Heritage Farm sausage in no time, and that box is just a minor obstacle. Please keep all gifts containing food items out of the reach of your dogs. 


If you place a live tree in your home, please ensure the water is not accessible as a back up water bowl. The water feeding the Christmas tree will have a higher level of bacteria and tree mold floating around in there.