Christmas is less than a week away, but if you're anything like me, you probably haven't finished or even started your Christmas shopping yet, so it's not too late to include your pet as well. Happy shopping! , 1.) A cute sweater! You may not be aware of this, but it’s cold outside in the winter! Sure, a lot of dogs come equipped with their own heat and layering system, but certain breeds of dogs can have thin hair coats and may not be genetically suited to their environment. Smaller breed dogs are also more likely to struggle to stay warm in the winter months. The other perks of buying your dog or cat a sweater? They look darn cute, and they’re usually only slightly humiliated. Proper fit is also important as you don’t want the sweater to be loose, dragging, or get caught in things, nor do you want it to be too tight. It should be snug but not constricting. 2.) Charitable donation- Tis the season! A great gift for your pet is to make a charitable donation in their name to a local shelter or rescue. I always recommend donating locally so you can have the most impact on pets or animals in your community. For my fellow friends and followers in the Howard County area, I recommend donating to PAWs, Fayette’s local rescue. Central Missouri Humane Society and Columbia Second Chance are also nearby rescues that could always use more resources or donations. Look at the bottom of this blog for information on sending donations to PAWs. 3.) New Tag or Microchipping! How ‘bout a little extra bling or just a new accessory for your pet? Buy them a new tag with their name and your contact info on it! Better yet, I recommend microchipping your pet if you haven’t done so already. A microchip is a small device that gets implanted under the skin of your pet. When it is scanned, it emits a number that links you to your pet. Unlike collars and tags, microchips cannot get lost and increase the likelihood that you will be reunited with your pet in the event they get lost. Most veterinarians in private practice (including yours truly) perform this service. If your pet is already microchipped, I recommend going online and making sure your microchip information is up-to-date. 4.) Walks and extra attention! Dogs will appreciate this gift almost more than anything else. Take your dog on a walk they’ve never been on before with new smells and things for them to see. Spend extra time with them playing fetch or their favorite activity. Time is the hardest thing to come by but can be the best gift to your pets and loved ones this Christmas. 5.) Veterinary wellness check- Has it been awhile since you’ve been to your veterinarian? Nothing is better than the gift of health. Dogs age seven years for every year that we age, so frequent wellness checks are very important for your pooch. By age two, your cat has matured to about the same as a twenty-five year old human, so wellness checks are very important for your cat as well. Your veterinarian can check your pet’s weight, do a thorough physical exam from head to tail, discuss any concerns, monitor dental health, and make sure your pet is on the right preventatives to keep them healthy throughout the year. 6.) Homemade treats- People who know me will know that I’m not much into cooking or baking. My husband does most of the cooking in our household and gets quite nervous every time I’m in the kitchen. I rarely bake for my husband, but occasionally I will bake for my dog. I decided to embrace my inner Martha Stewart (minus the whole stock trade fraud thing) and make homemade dog treats. I even used a recipe off of her website! The only exception I made was all-purpose flour for the barley flour. They don’t have that fancy stuff at my local grocery store, and considering my dog ate cow crap out of the pasture, I didn’t figure her palate was sensitive enough to tell the difference. Follow this link for the recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/319172/izzys-apple-cheddar-dog-biscuits 7.) New Dog Bed or New Toy- A new dog bed is a great gift for your pooch and will help him/her feel cozy this winter. You can also buy your dog a toy that you normally wouldn’t get, like a Kong or even a toy with an obnoxious squeaker that they’ll love to tear up. While you’re at it, you could even buy a toy to donate to a shelter dog. 8.) Grooming- Make an appointment for your pup with the groomer for some pampering. Nothing is better than cuddling a freshly cleaned and fluffed dog. It also saves you the mess of cleaning up the bathroom and yourself after bathing your dog. 9.) New Leash and Collar- After a nice grooming and new dog tag, a new leash and collar is a great way to complete the doggie makeover. Collar fit is also very important, so I recommend taking your dog into the store when you buy them to ensure you get the right size. You want the collar to be snug enough that it doesn’t slip off, but loose enough that you can easily fit two or three fingers underneath it. 10.) Cat Perch- Ever notice how your cat loves to sit on the back of the couch or in the window sill? Cats love elevated spaces to rest on. Carpeted cat perches can also serve as a scratching post for your cat as scratching is also natural behavior for them. To get the most use out of your cat perch and scratch post, I recommend placing it in a high traffic area of your house. In the spirit of Christmas, here are some pictures of my friend's pets, willingly taken or obviously forced. Donations for PAWs can be sent to the following address:
PAWs c/o Bill Kountz 910 Hwy 240 Fayette, MO 65248
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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