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Pet Vet Articles (Published Weekly in the Northern Territory News)



Aggression in cats
Aggressive dogs
Arthritis
Aural Haematomas
Baby Bats
Bad Habits Part 1: Coprophagy
Barking Dogs
Bats
Beak and Feather disease
Blindness
Bottom dragging, worms and anal glands
Calcium Deficiency in Reptiles
Cancer
Cane Toads and Dogs
Canine cough (Kennel Cough)
Cat Flu
Cats & dogs living together
Ceasarian
Chickens as pets
Christmas and Pets
Coastal Carpet Pythons in Darwin
Coccidia
Demodex mange
Desexing: an opportunity to change a life
Diarrhoea
Dr. Tom is leaving The Ark vet
Ear infections
Ear Mites
Feather loss
Fireworks
Fishing Lure
Flatulence
Fleas
Flying Foxes
Fur Balls
Goldfish
Heartworm
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Humping
Moving with Pets
New Years Eve (alcohol poisoning)
Obesity
Overheating
PAWS pets, pets for life
Pets and Christmas
Rabbits
Riding in Utes
Snake bite
Snakes as pets
Stress
Sun Protection
Tetanus in Wallabies
Thunderstorms
Tick Control
Tick Fever (Anaplasmosis)
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Pets and Christmas
Dr Stephen Cutter B.V.Sc(hons)

Christmas is fast approaching. There is not much that spoils Christmas more than having to rush Fluffy to the vet. However a little bit of planning will keep your pet safe and your holidays happy.

Be mindful of your pet's needs and feelings. People often get stressed over Christmas and your pets will pick this up. Paying them some extra attention will not only comfort them but will help with your stress levels too.

The most common danger for pets over Christmas, like people, is eating the wrong foods or too much. Dogs in particular are natural scavengers and will eat all sorts of things. Make sure Christmas food is securely stored out their reach. If your dogs are around during parties be careful of well meaning guests. Too much rich fatty foods can cause diarrhoea or worse pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is life threatening and incredibly painful. At barbecues cooked bones, especially chop bones, and satay skewers are common hazards and can be fatal. I would lock up dogs during barbecues because even the most responsible of people can be tempted with disastrous results. Be especially careful as well if you leave the cleaning up until the morning that the dogs donít clean it up for you.

Many cats and some dogs are very stressed by visitors or loud music so make sure they are secure and have a safe space of their own.

Remember also that the Christmas tree makes a tempting play ground for many pets, if you leave your pet in the house with the Christmas tree donít be surprised to find it has come crashing down.

Christmas is not all bad news though; Santa photos can also be a fun gift or card so make sure you bring your pets down to Marlows lagoon on the 20th November for photos with Santa. All money goes to the RSPCA. I'll see you there...

Copyright © 2005-2013 Dr Stephen M Cutter
May not be reproduced without written permission from the author.

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