As the Vets Says

Let's Get Ready for Christmas

Now that Halloween and Thanksgiving are over, the Christmas decorations start coming out! Well, let’s be honest, they’ve been in the stores for months now! But now is the time that most of us get serious about decorating our homes. Those of us who have pets need to think about a few extra things as we get our houses decked out for the holidays. 1. Don’t use tinsel. Tinsel and sparkly garlands are popular decorations. But if you have cats, these are two fancy things that you’ll want to avoid. Cats love to play with sparkly things like tinsel and garland, and they will sometimes eat them! Eating tinsel or garland can be very dangerous for cats, might result in them needing surgery, and can even be life-threatening. If you have cats, it’s best to leave tinsel and garland out of your decorating. 2. Be careful with ribbon. Ribbon falls into the same category as tinsel and garland. Kitties love to play with ribbon, and they can also eat it. Ribbon can be especially bad because they can swallow very long pieces, and that can cause big problems in their intestines. Like tinsel or garland, if they eat ribbon they might need surgery and it can be lifethreatening. 3. Ornaments. Anyone who has had a puppy, a kitten, or a child around the holidays knows what “fun” the Christmas tree can be for everyone. Keep your special and breakable ornaments higher on the tree, out of reach of playful pets and kids. Be especially careful with glass ball ornaments around dogs. Your pups might try to play with these balls, and can get cuts in their mouth if the ornaments break. 4. Secure the tree. It’s always a good idea to secure the tree so it can’t tip over – especially if you have rambunctious puppies or climbing cats around. You don’t want your pets to knock the tree down, wreck the ornaments, and possibly hurt themselves! 5. Don’t give pets as presents. It can be very tempting to surprise your family with a new puppy or kitten as a present. If you are thinking about giving a pet as a present, please discuss this with the family first. A pet is a big responsibility, and can come with expenses. Make sure that everyone is ready before you surprise them with a new furry family member. Are your pets up-to-date on their vaccines? Do they have their current rabies tag or a microchip in case they get lost during the busy holiday season? The Princeton Veterinary Hospital always accepts new patients. We can help keep your animals healthy! Call us at 812-3852733 if you have any questions, or bring your animals in for an exam, no appointment needed!

We are always accepting new patients!