Holiday Pet Dangers

Holiday Foods:  Don’t let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol that can cause illnesses varying from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis or other toxic reactions.  Human seasonings aren't good for pets, plus rich foods (including the stock and drippings) can easily upset pets' digestive systems.  Keep your pet on his regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats."

·    Holiday Plants: A number of holiday season plants are poisonous to pets if nibbled or eaten: ivy, holly, hibiscus, mistletoe, and Norfolk Pine are all mildly to very highly toxic.  Christmas greens such as  juniper, cedar, pine and fir are mildly toxic, especially if needles are ingested as they have the potential to puncture holes in a pet’s intestine. This is not a complete listing...there are many more toxic plants. An additional listing of both toxic and non-toxic plants can be located here. It's wise to keep plants out of your pets' and children's reach.

·    Tree Water:  Do not let pets drink the holiday tree water. Some may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria or mold.

·    Snow Globes sometimes contain antifreeze, which is extremely poisonous to pets.

·    Poisoning Help:  If you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic, you can contact us, visit the toxic plant list on our website, or contact one of the local emergency hospitals if it is outside our normal business hours.  The ASPCA has an emergency Animal Poison Control Center open 24-hours, the hotline is 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.

 ·   Electrical Cords: The extra cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look like chew toys to pets. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries. Unplug lights when you are not home.    

·   Tinsel and Candy Wrappers:  Pets, particularly cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach, or better yet, avoid tinsel completely in homes with pets. The foil wraps on candies can cause internal injuries if swallowed - the foil can be like a razor as it is swallowed and ingested. Keep all candies and their wrappers in a secured place.

 ·    Gifts:  Keep pets away from gift packages as well as your gift wrapping area.  Ingested string, plastic, cloth and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage and require surgical removal.  For homes with inquiring dogs, it might be best to remove gifts of food or other edibles from under the tree and out of their reach.

· Ornaments:  Keep other ornaments out of reach of pets. Ingestion of any ornament or parts thereof, which might look like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments. Every year our doctors are called on to remove a holiday item from an unfortunate pet.  And remember, shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body.

·    Emergency!  If your pet ingests or if you suspect she has ingested any kind of foreign material such as glass, broken plastic, staples or other small, sharp objects, contact us (or an emergency clinic if it is after hours) immediately.

·    Guests:  Holiday guests and other activity can be stressful and even frightening to pets. It can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure pets have a safe place to retreat in your house. And make sure they are wearing current I.D., or have a microchip in case they escape out a door when guests come and go.

·    Stable Routine: Increased activity and visitors during the winter holiday season can upset your pet's routine. Reduce stress by keeping your pet on his regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure the pet gets plenty of time and attention.

· Ribbons:  Resist the temptation to tie ribbons around pet’s necks for the holidays. The pets can tighten ribbons resulting in choking or hang themselves if the ribbon is caught on an object.

Leptospirosis Affecting Sea Lions on Oregon Coast: Humans and Pet Owners Exercise Caution

Some of the dead or dying sea lions being found on the Oregon Coast are infected with the bacteria that causes leptospirosis infection. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that is transmissible to pets and people. People should stay at least 50 feet away from a beached sea mammal and keep their dogs on a leash to avoid contact with sea lions.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals. In people, the symptoms are often flu-like. The risk of getting leptospirosis through common contact with a dog is low; the primary mode of transmission is through contact with contaminated animal urine. Symptoms in dogs include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, renal disease, and liver dysfunction. Risk factors for dogs include contaminated water and contact with cattle, rats or raccoon urine.

Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics. To help prevent leptospirosis, vaccinate your dog and keep rodents under control. A new vaccine can protect your dogs against the four most common versions of Leptospirosis: L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona and L. grippotyphosa. Note, however, that a vaccine cannot provide 100% guaranteed protection due to the many strains of this bacteria.

Click here for more information on lepto…

Halsey East Animal Clinic is proud to now be offering dog obedience classes!  We have been so successful with both puppies and adult dogs we are doing a second term!  

This is yet another way for us here to help you establish and solidify a healthy and rewarding relationship with your best friend.  If you have a puppy that could use a little training, or an old friend that may just need a brush up on fundamental skills, this basic obedience class series will be perfect for you.

We are proud to have on our team the Behavior and Training Specialist for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter: Ms Stephanie Collingsworth, CPDT-KA.  Stephanie (along with our own Donna Police) will walk you through and help you understand the basics of obedience and training in the comfortable, dry and spacious facilities of Day Care for Doggy.

The Basic Obedience Class is 7 weeks long with a maximum class size of only 10 dogs. 

Cost is only $120 (discounts available for multiple dogs), and will be worth every penny. 

Classes start Thursday, December 2nd at 7:30 pm and class size is limited, so call us today to reserve your spot!

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween can be super fun for both you and your pet. So you make sure you both won’t be exposed to dangerous or uncomfortable situations and plan ahead. Below are some tips so you can prepare yourselves for Halloween:

Keep Candy and Chocolate Away from Pets

· Keep holiday treats and candies, out of your pet's reach as they can make your pet quite sick. If eaten, candy wrappers can cause an upset stomach. How can something so shiny be dangerous?  They just are.

· Chocolate, particularly unsweetened, dark, bittersweet and baking chocolate, can be toxic to pets, especially dogs, who are more prone to eat it. If your dog eats chocolate, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center, as treatment may need to be rendered immediately. Symptoms of toxicity include excitement, nervousness, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, muscle spasms and seizures.  Don’t let you cat eat it either.

· Keep gum, candy or breath fresheners containing the sweetener xylitol away from your dog. When a dog eats even a small amount of xylitol, it causes a surge of insulin, and the animal's blood sugar may drop quickly and dangerously. Cases of liver damage have also been associated with ingestion of xylitol. If your dog does ingest xylitol, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately.

Costumes May Not Be a Treat

· Some pets might not mind "dressing up" for Halloween, but, for others (nay, most), it could be a stressful experience best avoided.

· Costumes should fit properly and not hinder your pet's movement, vision or breathing.

· Check if your pet enjoys wearing a costume before you make him go through Halloween with it. Don’t force your pet to wear it. If he’s not enjoying it, he can get upset or angry and get hurt trying to get rid of it.  Then you’ll have to come see us and we’ll laugh at you.

· If your pet does take to costumes (like ours – check our facebook page soon for our clinic cat pictorial!), make sure the one you choose doesn’t have small or hanging parts that can get him tangled or make him choke.

Keep Pets In When Trick-or-Treaters Are Out

· If you plan to participate in Halloween festivities, such as answering your door to trick-or-treaters, keep pets in a quiet part of the house. Pets can become overexcited, confused or frightened by trick-or-treaters in costume.

·  Don’t forget to put a collar on your pet with an ID tag if you plan to open the door frequently for trick or treats. A tag may be your pet’s only chance to be identified and brought home if he darts outside when the door is open.  Better yet, a good ‘trick’ is to tell your pooch he’s going to the park and instead bring him here for a microchip!

· If your pet is prone to escaping or isn’t social with visitors, close him in a room with food, water and a blanket during the trick or treat time. If you have a dog, don’t forget to take him out to do his business before you lock him. If you have a cat, you may want to place the litter box in the room with her...or you may get a trick and the dog might get a treat!

· If your pet doesn’t enjoy loud noises, sudden moves, strangers or crowds, leave your pet at home for Halloween. He may get scared and escape, or get angry and hurt someone or himself....Cujo was a scary movie.

Decorations Are Potential Tricks

· Halloween decorations such as fake cobwebs should be kept out of reach of pets.

· Glow sticks can be hazardous if chewed or ingested.

· Light strands, loose wires and electric cords can be a serious hazard to your pet, especially puppies, who may chew them.

· Never leave candles, such as those in jack-o-lanterns, unattended, especially around puppies and kittens.

· Never allow your pets to eat a leftover jack-o-lantern, as a rotted, moldy pumpkin can make them seriously ill.

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With the right tricks and treats, you and your pet can have a lot of fun together during Halloween. Boo!

Don’t forget about our Doggie Daycare!!!

Don’t Forget, we offer high quality Dog Day Care for your dog. We do things a bit differently (and we think, better) than the other doggie day cares. Our program includes time out with friends in groups no bigger than 8 and with at least two staff members (skilled dog people) at all times. We keep the play to a controlled level of excitement, but they always have fun. We have a core group of dogs that are stable and sound individuals who will help your dog integrate into a social play group with ease.

What is doggie daycare?

Doggie daycare is a controlled, socialized environment where your dog can come and play with other dogs; receive positive mental stimulation, and attention from our loving staff. After the day is through, they go home to spend a quiet and peaceful evening with their families.

Dogs spend approximately 6 hours a day playing that is split into three play sessions of fun, then some time to rest and recharge.

How do I start?

The first step to enroll in Doggie Daycare is to schedule a “trial run” to see if your dog fits the bill. Your dog MUST be dog friendly and social.

“Trial runs” are by appointment only and if your pet passes the evaluation, s/he will be welcomed back to participate in either half day or full day programs.

Daycare Hours:  Monday – Friday 7:30am-6:00pm

Prices: We offer full & half day rates as well as package deals. Please call for rates.

Keep a close eye on our new blog for profound insights into the pet and companion animal world! 

Our Latest News

Introducing Dog Obedience Classes!

Halsey East Animal Clinic is proud to now be offering dog obedience classes!  This is yet another way for us here to help you establish and solidify a healthy and rewarding relationship with your best friend.  If you have a puppy that could use a little training, or an old friend that may just need a brush up on fundamental skills, this basic obedience class series will be perfect for you.

We are proud to have on our team the Behavior and Training Specialist for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter: Ms Stephanie Collingsworth, CPDT-KA.  Stephanie (along with our own Donna Police) will walk you through and help you understand the basics of obedience and training in the comfortable, dry and spacious facilities of Day Care for Doggy.

The Basic Obedience Class is 7 weeks long with a maximum class size of only 10 dogs. 

Cost is only $120 (discounts available for multiple dogs), and will be worth every penny.