As the holidays approach and our spirits rise, our pets sense the excitement too.  This time of year can be filled with fun, family, friends...and also many tempting, but dangerous, things for our four-legged friends.  There are a number of things that concerned pet owners should know to keep their pets safe during the holiday season, and all winter long.

The holidays for many people involve lots of decorating, baking, and gift giving, but these things can turn out hazardous for our pets.  Many of our festive plants such as mistletoe, holly, and Christmas cactus are poisonous to animals. 

Poinsettias and Christmas trees, although not poisonous, can cause stomach upset if ingested.  Decorations such as tinsel, string, tree lights, ornaments, liquid potpourris, and artificial snow can be quite intriguing to pets, but may cause them lots of problems if eaten, chewed on, or tangled in.

Throughout the holiday season, kitchens are filled with goodies, but beware...chocolate, bread dough, alcohol, avocado, coffee, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, onions, salts, and moldy or spoiled foods are all potentially toxic to pets!  Keep all food stored away, and be sure to put the garbage in inaccessible containers.

Wrapped presents look great under the tree, but be aware that your pet may try to tear them up or eat part of them while you are not watching.  Even if your pet has been perfect in the past, keep in mind that this time of year is very busy for people.  Pets that don't receive their normal amount of attention and activity will find other ways to occupy their time. 

Despite all the necessary precautions, the holidays are a wonderful time for bonding.  Nothing is more relaxing than curling up on the couch in front of the Christmas tree with a purring cat or sleeping dog. 

By keeping them safe and warm, your pets will be able to enjoy the holidays as much as you do.  In fact, having them around seems to make the season even more enjoyable and the winter more tolerable!  

Koby the 3-Legged Wonder Dog!                          by, Julie

Every dog has a story - my dog Koby certainly has an interesting one of his own.  His story begins February of 2003.  My husband and I had been thinking about getting a dog.  We had searched shelters, and looked at rescues, but no dog was quite right.

Then one morning a Golden Retriever named Koby came to Carver Lake.  He was in pretty sad shape having been hit by a car.  Although he had no home, and a broken leg, he never stopped wagging his tail.  I fell in love instantly.

Surgery was done to repair his broken leg, and his life as part of my family began.  For the next month we got to know each other as he healed and continued to grow at the amazing pace that puppies do.  But, after a month of healing it became obvious that Koby was having problems with his previously broken leg.

One of the two bones in his leg was not growing properly.  We were faced with a very difficult decsion.  Perform yet another surgery with an even longer recovery time, or amputate the leg and get rid of the problem entirely.  It was the most difficult decision of my life.  After a lot of thought, and  many tear filled discussions, my husband and I elected to amputate his leg.  He was just a puppy and we didn't want to put him through another surgery that wasn't guaranteed to work.

The morning of Koby's amputation we left him in the care of the amazing doctors here and waited.  We took Koby home that evening and kept him heavily sedated and on plenty of pain medication.  He stayed very quiet and did not move much at all. 

My husband and I spent most of the night worrying that we had made the wrong decision.  The next morning as the sedatives wore off and Koby started to wake, Dr. Grant came over to help us get him ready for the next stage of recovery.  

We carried our newly 3-legged dog outside and stood him up to see how he did. He started to tip a little at first and then he moved his remaining front leg into the middle and proceeded to hop about the yard and sniff just as he always had.  To our amazement he even hopped up the stairs to get back inside without hesitation.  It was at that moment that we knew we had made the right decision.  

The next few months of recovery flew by and soon our little puppy was all grown up and just as crazy as any 4-legged dog...in fact maybe even a little crazier! 

Koby is now 4 years old and as happy as ever.  He is a professional tennis ball fetcher, he swims better and faster than most 4-legged dogs I know, holds his own at the dog park, and even tried his hand at agility!  I don't think Koby has any idea that he is different than other dogs. 

Although Koby doesn't realize he is any different, there are a few extra things that my husband and I do to help keep him healthy.  We started him on a joint supplement and keep him very lean in order to prevent early arthritis.  We keep his nails and the fur on the bottom of his feet trimmed so he has good traction.  And, we never throw his tennis balls in the air - we don't want him jumping and injuring his remaining legs.

Beyond those few extra things we have found that Koby is really no different than any other dog - in fact having only one front leg doesn't even keep him from digging!  He never ceases to amaze us.

Koby has been an inspiration to us and those around him.  He didn't let his "disability" stop him from doing anything his little doggy heart desired.  We could all learn a lot from his amazing positive outlook on life.  Although it was a difficult first couple months, I am so glad that Koby found his way into our lives.  People always say that Koby was lucky to find a family like us.  I disagree...it was my family that was lucky to find a dog like Koby.

   

The holidays are a time when families do lots of traveling.  If you are lucky you can bring your pets along, but for many they must leave them at home.  Although boarding facilities offer a place for pets to stay, pet sitting service are sometimes an even better option. 

A professional pet sitter is someone who's job is to care for your pets while you are at work or traveling.  These individuals usually pet-sit for a living and thus have lots of experience.  Most pet-sitters chose this line of work because they care deeply about the well-being of animals.

Pet Sitters can do many things for you...

1.  Some pet sitters will stay at your home with your pets while you are traveling.  Many pets prefer the comforts of home to visiting a boarding facility.  Pet sitters make it possible to let your pets stay at home while you are away.  The other advantage to this is that you have someone to look after you home as well.  Pet-sitters can water plants, bring in the mail, and keep an eye on things.

2.  Pet sitters often provide daily services to check on pets while you are at work or away during the day.  During these visits they will walk, feed, and play with your pets as directed by you.  This is especially helpful for people who have puppies who are still potty-training.

Pet sitters offer a wonderful alternative to boarding facilities!  Still, it is important to interview candidates before entrusting them with your pets care. 

Make sure they are bonded and have liability insurance.  Inquire about what services they offer, what experience they have, and how much they charge.  Introduce the candidate to your pets.  Watch how they interact.  If either the pet sitter or your pet seem uncomfortable then rethink your decision to hire this person.  Remember that they will be caring for your pet while you are not there.  You and your pets must all trust this person.

Lisa Berget, a long time employee of Carver Lake Veterinary Center,  also runs Paws-a-Tively Pet Care and would be happy to talk with you about her pet sitting services.  You can contact directly at Paws-a-Tively Pet Care by calling 612-590-2245 or emailing  lalaberget@comcast.net.  A list of  local pet sitters can also be found at www.petsit.com. 

Winston - A Blind Cat With a Big Heart       by, Jessica

Every pet has its own "special needs."  Some will only eat certain foods, others must be brushed first thing in the morning, some even want the television turned to Animal Planet when left alone!  But, some pets' special needs are a little more obvious, such as being blind or deaf.  Having a special needs pet is a wonderful, rewarding experience, but may require some additional attention. 

I adopted a 19 year old blind cat named Winston last summer.  I was a little wary because I had never owned, or even been around many blind pets before.  Winston had been blind for many years according to his previous owner.  I was extremely surprised how quickly and comfortably he acclimated to our home. 

 His first day home he walked the perimeter of the entire house, up and down a flight of stairs, and all over the furniture without hesitation.  There are a few things I do to keep things simple for Winston like keeping his food, water, and litter box in the same location - moving them really confuses him.  We have also re-arranged some furniture in the basement where he sleeps to make things more convenient for him. 

When I am going to pick Winston up I always make some noise or brush his whiskers to let him know what I am about to do.  I also make sure to tell any guests that Winston is blind and explain to them how to best interact with him (some people would shoo him off the couch not realizing he is blind).

Another blind pet I've gotten a chance to interact with is Rocket Dog.  Rocket is a 5 year old boxer who is owned by one of our clients.  He was in for an appointment and Dr. Grant said to me "you gotta meet this dog."  I walked around the front desk and was greeted with a giant boxer kiss.  A moment later I noticed that Rocket didn't have any eyes.  I had met blind pets, and pets with only one eye, but never one that was missing both eyes! 

Rocket was hit by a car when he was two years old and had a bi-lateral enuculation (both eyes surgically removed).  Rocket joined a household of two other boxers and has adapted very well.  His owner uses the scents of different essential oils in different areas of her home to help give him an idea of where he is in the house.  For example, she used eucalyptus in the kitchen and jasmine in the family room.  Rocket's owner also uses vocal commands in his training such as saying "stairs" just before approaching a staircase so Rocket learns to approach with caution. 

At one point Rocket got out of his fenced yard and was missing for three days.  We were all very concerned for his safety.  There were numerous search parties looking for him and finally he was found not too far from his home.  Rocket now wears large, jingly bells on his collar so his owner can locate him easier.

Animals can lose their vision for a number of reasons.  Diseases such glaucoma and cataracts, trauma such as being hit by a car, or congenital defects can all cause or lead to blindness.  Most of our companion animals do fairly well with vision loss.  In some cases vision loss can enhance their other senses, particularly smell and hearing. 

As animals age you may begin to see some cloudiness develop in their eyes.  Over time an owner may also notice an animal who is reluctant or hesitant to go down stairs in the dark.  These are both signs of changes in vision and should be discussed with your veterinarian.  For this and many other reasons we like to see your senior pets (dogs and cats over seven years old)  at least twice a year. 

Blindness doesn't mean your pet cannot enjoy the normal things in life.  Most pets do just fine after a short adjustment period.  Just be patient, caring, and accommodating to your pet.  There are many resources on line to help you locate more information blindness in pets.