Keep Pets Safe for the Holidays

Ornaments and tinsel may pose a risk to pets.

One of the pitfalls of the holidays is that families bring foreign objects such as Christmas trees, tinsel, poinsettias and ribbon into the homes. While these things may make the family's holiday brighter, they can be disastrous for pets. As a result, pet-related emergencies increase each holiday season. However, according to BluePearl Veterinary Partners of Tampa Bay, many of these emergencies are avoidable if families take precautions. Here are some safety tips for pets from BluePearl: • Keep holiday decorations out of reach. Ingestion of metal or glass ornaments, ribbons and tinsel is a medical emergency. They can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract. • Place holiday plants high off the ground. Ivy, holly, poinsettia, …

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Rescue Me

Kennel Cough Is in Season, and it Spreads Quickly

At least seven dogs I know have contracted kennel cough in the last month and a half. Here's what to watch for, and how to respond if your dog has symptoms.

In the last month and a half, many dogs in this area have contracted kennel cough. I know of seven dogs from the local dog park that have gotten it, and who knows how many others that I don’t know about. I've been one of the lucky ones (knock on wood), and Kaiah and Grayson have escaped this round.  A friend told me that someone told her that he would not be coming back to the park because other people don’t vaccinate their dogs. She asked him if he had vaccinated his dog, and he said, “Well, yes, from rabies, but that is it.” This made me think that maybe I need to talk a little about kennel cough and preventive measures. How Do Dogs Get Kennel Cough? Just like humans, dogs can get a virus many different ways. Dogs contract kennel cough …

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