What’s Under the Tree for Your Pets?

An estimated 75% of pet owners will give their furry, feathered and scaled friends gifts during the holidays!  So, what are the best gifts out there?  According to our staff, these are a few ideas!

Wellness Examination

Just like humans, prevention is key to wellness!  We all want our pets to live long, happy & healthy lives.  Annual wellness exams can allow doctors to identify preventable and easily treatable issues with your companion before they become urgent or life-threatening situations.  When thinking of what your pet may be dreaming of under the tree, consider scheduling them an annual visit!  We even offer gift certificates and other payment options, such as Care Credit.

Dogs:

Homemade Dog Treats

A quick search of the internet will reveal hundreds of recipes adequate for your furry friend.  These can include anything from peanut butter and pumpkin to chicken stock and liver.  Just be cautious that your recipe doesn’t include anything that is harmful to your pet, such as artificial sugars, raisins or chocolate.  For a complete list of harmful foods you can visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets .

Toys

Dog toys that promote exercise and healthy habits are wonderful Holiday gifts for your furry friends!  Beyond the normal Frisbees and tennis balls, you can find a wide variety of toys that make your pet play to get their favorite treats, or even their normal food.  These products can range from very simple gadgets to complex toys, depending on your pet’s ambition and sense of adventure.  You can find a wide variety at your local pet store or by searching “Foraging toys for dogs”.

Accessories

Is that old collar getting a little faded?  Maybe the clip doesn’t seem as sturdy as it used to be.  A new collar or leash might be the perfect gift for your companion.  Not only are you giving them something adorable, but you’re also improving their safety with new equipment that is less likely to have defects.  We carry a wide variety of Lupine collars, harnesses and leashes and they’re 100% guaranteed against all damage, even chewing!

Cats:

Toys

One of the most important things for house cats is entertainment and what better way to entertain them then to feed them at the same time!  Just like foraging toys for dogs, there are several different types of toys that promote playing and exercise to obtain treats and their regular kibble.

Cat nip toys can also have a calming, relaxed effect on your purrful companion, and may quickly become their favorite toys.

Although most cats don’t play fetch, you could have immense amounts of fun playing chase with your feline friend and a laser pointer.  You can find these at most pet stores.

When all else fails with your finicky feline, maybe you’ll find their absolute favorite toy is the box all the fancy stuff came in.

Birds:

Destroyables

Bird owners know that one of their feathered friends’ favorite things to do is destroy things!  There are a wide variety of commercially made destroyable toys available at places like Parrots n’ Stuff and many pet stores.  Just be cautious with toys that have easily swallowed metal bits or string-like material.  We don’t want your bird to ingest any foreign metal that may be toxic or get strings wrapped around any toes!  Along with purchasing pre-made toys, crafty owners can make wonderful foraging toys at home using things like paper towel rolls, Kleenex boxes, bits of paper and other house hold items.

Perches

In any environment, a variety of perching options should be offered.  We are firm believers in offering cement bird perches.  You can find these at places such as Parrots ‘N Stuff or a quick internet search.  These perches offer a different type of material than traditional wood dowels and create a favorable environment for
birds to naturally wear down their sharp toe nails and beak.

Treats

There are many ‘treats’ that our feathered companions love to have that are commercially available, and very good for them.  Lafeber makes several pellet-based seed treats that offer foraging-like behavior combined with a healthier treat than traditional seeds and nuts.  You can find them available in our lobby or many commercial pet stores.  Most parrots also love to be included in the family meals, with reasonable bits of our holiday treats, just remember – No chocolate, artificial sugar, avocado or alcohol!