Happy Memorial Day!! This is such a fun time of year! Summer, sun, barbecues, and friends, what could be better! As the busy holiday weekend is speedily approaching, we want to provide you with some tips to keep your pets safe and healthy this weekend and all summer long!
Partying Smart
Barbecuing is one of the best part of Memorial Day, but be cautious that the food and drinks you serve your guests may be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from animals, and remind guests not to give them any snacks. Raisins, grapes, onions, chocolates, and avocados are all common at barbecues – and all are toxic to animals. Several rich, fatty foods can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can also lead to a serious inflammation of the pancreas (i.e. pancreatitis). Giving your pet leftover bones can also lead to choking or a possible GI obstruction.
Skip the Spray
Unless specifically designed for animals, insect repellent and sunscreen can be toxic for pets. Signs of toxicity include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. DEET, a common insecticide in products for humans, may cause neurological issues in dogs. We carry many flea and tick preventatives at Holmes Animal Clinic!
Made in the Shade
Although spring may seem a bit premature to be worried pets in warm weather (especially with all this rain) pets can get dehydrated quickly, so if you’re spending time outside, be sure to provide plenty of fresh, clean water and be sure they have a shady place to get out of the sun. Reminder that animals with flat faces, such as pugs and persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets along with elderly, overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases should be kept in cool, air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
IDs, Please
Time spent outdoors come with the added risk of pets escaping. Make sure that your pet is fitted with a microchip or ID tag with identifying information, or even both! Your pet’s current Holmes Animal Clinic Rabies Tag can serve as a source of identification, but is only available for lookup when someone can search the database at the clinic. We are proud to offer HomeAgain Microchips at Holmes Animal Clinic. Did you know 1 in 3 pets go missing, and 90% of lost pets without an identification are not returned home. The HomeAgain Microchip allows your lost pet to be scanned and provides HomeAgain’s information, and they can then help you with reuniting! It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Reminder!
Holmes Animal Clinic will be closed Monday, May 27th to allow our employees to observe Memorial Day with friends and family. In case of an emergency, please call the clinic at 515-295-2627, and you will be redirected to the veterinarians on call. If you reach their voicemail, please leave your name, number, and a description of your emergency and they will respond as soon as possible. Our boarding pick-up times for the holiday weekend are 8am, 12pm, or 6pm. We hope you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend!