Fall, winter and the holiday seasons can pose special risks to your pets.
Here are some tips for keeping everyone safe and healthy

As the cooler weather begins, we would like to pass along some simple guidelines to help protect your animal companions:

- The best way to keep your cat warm? Keep him inside!  Outdoors, felines can  become lost or injured. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious disease, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

- We don't see much snow here in the lower elevations of San Diego. If your holiday plans include a trip up to our local mountains, or taking your pet along for a wintry vacation into the snow, be sure to thoroughly wipe off your dog’s feet, legs and tummy when he comes in out of the elements. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.  Also, don't leave without having proper identification tags on your pet.  Attaching an I.D. tag with the local area phone number where you can be reached is a good idea.

Always provide fresh, clean water for your pet.

Indoor pets should be provided with a warm, dry area free from drafts. Provide bedding that is up and off cold floors, and wash bedding weekly if possible.
Outdoor pets should have dry shelter out of the wind. Bring cats and dogs into the house if the weather conditions are cold and rainy. 

Staying warm requires extra calories, pets may need more food or a change in diet. Talk to your veterinarian about your pets needs.

Shedding- Most dogs and cats shed their summer coats in the fall before putting on their winter coat. Special attention should be paid to hair coats. Daily or weekly brushing (depending on your pets coat) should help to keep your pet comfortable and free of matts, mud, and loose hair.

Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to underneath the belly.

Never leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.

Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

Preventing the great escape
With holiday guests coming and going, the front door will be opening and closing more than usual. An open door may be too tempting for some pets to resist. Be sure your pets have collars with identification tags - and wear them at all times - in case of an escape.  If your pet DOES slip out, resist the urge to chase - which will turn it into a game. Instead, encourage him to come back to you by enticing him with a favorite treat.

With a little thought and care, you and your pets can enjoy a safe holiday season.

Hazard Warnings!
*Cats and kittens like to nap on warm places, this can include car engines! Knock on the hood of your car or truck or honk the horn, then wait a few minutes before starting the engine. If in doubt, open the hood and look.

*Antifreeze smells good and tastes very sweet, Very small amounts can kill your pet.  A cat walking thru a small amount, then licking its paws can ingest enough to cause major damage.  Prevention is the key to keeping your pets safe from this heartbreaking tragedy.  Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store where pets and children can't get to them.  Do not dispose of antifreeze by pouring into the gutter and never let your pet drink from the gutters.

*Fall is the most common time of year for male cats to "block" or form small "stones" that block the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra. Any cat that seems to be straining, visiting the cat box frequently, or urinating outside his box  should be checked by a veterinarian at once. One of the most common complaints is the owner thinking the cat was constipated. Why this time of year? May have to do with decreased water intake, a more sedentary lifestyle which leads to our pets being overweight....another factor in blocked cats.

*Holiday food-  Alcoholic beverages, candy, chocolate, turkey and fixing, pork, fish, bones, just to name a few hazards...keep your pet on its regular diet. We see a lot of dogs with vomiting and diarrhea right after holiday dinners, and some are very seriously ill.

*Poisonous plants- Many plants, including Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe, philodendron, dieffenbachia and poinsettia  (though typically thought of as poisonous to pets, is fairly low in toxicity, but can cause digestive upset and irritation to a pet's mouth and stomach) are toxic to your pet. Keep them out of your pets reach.  Holly berries are extremely toxic when ingested. Just a few berries will cause vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe also causes digestive system upset as well as irregular heartbeats and possibly cardiac shock. Plants like the hibiscus and those in the lily family, which are not toxic to people, may also be harmful to pets, causing digestive system problems and even renal failure.
If you must have these plants in your holiday décor, choose artificial ones to protect your pets. And don't forget to check gift floral arrangements for sprays of dangerous plants.

*Children's toys- Toys can present a poisoning or choking hazard. Be sure small toy pieces, plastic model cement, crayons and paints are put away or out of reach when not in use. Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape also represent potential dangers. Remove them as soon as possible.  Liquid potpourris, fireplace colors and salts, Styrofoam, tinsel, angel hair and other tree decorations can also be toxic if ingested, cause skin or eye irritation, or cause intestinal obstructions.

*Fire-Never leave lighted candles unattended and be sure they are securely anchored so they won't be dislodged by the swat of a paw or tail. Better yet, only use candles with domes or cylinders that enclose the flame.

*Kitchen dangers-Pets' highly sensitive noses pick up scents before humans can. Therefore, don't be surprised if your pets are underfoot in the kitchen while
holiday goodies are being prepared. Watch those hot containers filled with turkey and ham drippings. The pets can easily tip them over causing severe scalding and burns to themselves.

*Holiday decorations- Electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, ribbons, plastic or foil wrapping, ruber bands, etc. can be dangerous to your pet. Do not tie ribbons around pets necks or limbs.  The lovely bubbling holiday lights are moderate to lethal toxicity, depending on the amount of fluid (methylene chloride) inhaled or ingested.  For your pets safety, don't use angelhair (spun glass) it can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Artifical snow and snow flock has low toxicity - dry particles are inert; however, toxicity from inhalation can occur if spayed directly in the mouth.

*Cover up or hide electric cords.  Pets are sometimes tempted to chew on light cords, which can cause mouth burns or fatal shock. Even brief electric shocks can trigger an irregular heartbeat, which can cause fluid to gather in the lungs, leading to serious complications or death.

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