Thanksgiving Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin’ Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough
Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

 

Information provided by ASPCA:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.aspx

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital of Charlotte is now AAHA Accredited!

     The American Animal Hospital Association is the only organization that accredits small animal hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be evaluated on 900 standards. Veterinary hospitals accredited by AAHA must demonstrate an exceptional level of medical care and client service and they are re-evaluated every three years to make sure they are keeping up with industry updates.

    Veterinary practices choose to become AAHA-accredited for a myriad of reasons, including the desire to improve practice operations and team building, update their skills, enhance their credibility with clients and strive for continuous improvement. Approximately 3,200 veterinary hospitals in the United States and Canada have made a commitment to meeting the highest standards of veterinary care.

    Choosing an AAHA-accredited hospital assures pet owners that the hospital they select has the staff, equipment, medical procedures and facilities that AAHA believes are vital for delivering high-quality pet care. Find out why AAHA standards are important to your pet.

Offering FREE Monthly Pet Classes

December's Class

Inside the Box: An Insight into Cat Behavior with Dr. Jeannette McGarry

	Join Dr. McGarry (CCVH's Cat Whisperer) for an in depth discussion about general cat behavior. Ever wanted to know the reason why cats act the way they do, this is the event for you.    This free class is open to anyone; however, you must call 704.847.4796 to register due to limited seating. Refreshments will be served. December 3, 2-4pm.

This November Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital of Charlotte is educating everyone on the importance of adoption! There are so many abandon, unwanted and rescued pets out there, why would you buy a pet when you can save a life!

Here are 10 wonderful tips from the ASPCA to get your family ready for adoption!

Top 10 Tips for Adopting the Perfect Family Pet

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to add some four-legged love to your family. Adopting a pet should be fun and joyful, so we’ve created a list of handy tips to help you make good choices, and properly prepare your home for its newest member. Bring on the unconditional love, people!

1. Before you adopt a pet, talk to family members about what they want.

Discuss everyone’s likes and dislikes. Large dogs may be too strong or active for young children, for example, while some people may simply prefer cats over canines.

2. If you’re getting a pet for your children, don’t expect the kiddies to do all the work.

No matter how mature your child is, he will need constant supervision and help handling the responsibility of a cat or dog. Ultimately, the parent is responsible for the pet.

3. Make sure your family is ready for the changes a new pet will bring.

A furry friend brings love and adventure, but he also brings new household chores. Some dogs—especially puppies—may need a lot of attention and training, while cats thrive on a daily schedule of feeding, grooming and play.

4. Do a little research to learn which breed matches your family’s lifestyle.

Some breeds are naturally more aggressive or high-strung than others. Breeds such as Labrador and golden retrievers are known to be more even-tempered and well-behaved around children.

5. Confirm whether anyone in your family suffers from allergies.

Even if a family member has allergies, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t adopt a pet. Learn how to create an allergen-free environment.

6. Teach your family and kids about pet parenting before you adopt.

Learn about pet care, and explain to your children that walking a dog several times a day or cleaning a cat's litter box is part of the ongoing responsibility of caring for an animal.

7. Know that some animals and young children may not play well together.

Young children may unwittingly mishandle or hurt puppies and kittens, who are particularly vulnerable to being injured. On other hand, baby animals may have needle-sharp nails and teeth that can hurt children.

8. Make sure a pet suits your home and lifestyle.

Family members may have their hearts set on a large, active dog, but that particular pooch may not be the best choice for your circumstances. Or perhaps you like the look of a long-haired cat, but aren’t so keen on daily brushing.

9. Stock up on supplies, food and toys before you bring a pet home.

Make Fido or Fluffy feel welcome with all the comforts of home. The last thing you want is to rush to the store for a litter box and hope that your new cat will patiently wait for your return!

10. Create a schedule to share responsibility for caring for your pet.

A schedule is a great way to get the family involved in your pet's care and ensure that no one forgets to walk the dog or feed the cat. It will also help foster relationships between your new furry friend and everyone in the house.