PET CARE & ENRICHMENT

Navigating Easter Safety with Pets

Spring is in the air! Easter is a fun-filled time when family assembles, flowers begin to bloom, and treats are consumed. Some favourite childhood memories include creeping down the stairs early in the morning to an Easter egg hunt and an Easter basket filled with goodies, including chocolate bunnies, eggs, and candy, laying on a bed of crinkle paper and wrapped in a beautiful basket covered in glittery foil paper. Sounds like the perfect Easter, doesn’t it? But what about the furry companions in our lives? How can they partake in Easter celebrations while also being safe? This blog post will explore some ways to keep our fur-iends safe while we enjoy the festivities. Chocolate Safety During Easter, the first thing that often comes to mind is chocolate – chocolate bunnies, eggs, and other luxurious delicacies. Keeping your animals away from chocolate is essential to a fun-filled and safe Easter. Here are some things to keep in mind: Toxicity of Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Beware of dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content. This useful Dog Chocolate Toxicity Calculator can determine the level of risk for your pet. Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning: If your puppy, dog, cat, or kitten gets into your chocolate stash, be aware of the [...]

By |2024-03-01T13:48:49-07:00March 1, 2024|

Holiday Hazards for Pets & Top Gift Suggestions

Originally Published: Dec 15, 2021 / Updated: December 4, 2023 Every year we get the opportunity to celebrate many holidays with our pets, which includes lots of food, gifts, and the excitement of gathering with loved ones. With all this activity, it's important to ensure we’re taking some extra precautions for the paws underfoot. To give you some peace of mind when preparing for holiday festivities with your pet, we’re sharing some of our top tips on how to keep pets safe, plus a few gift ideas when you're shopping for a special cat or dog in your life. Mind the Decorations From hanging ornaments to lit candles, both the appearance and presence of your favourite decorations might lead your pet to think of them as toys or things to be chewed on. Here are some common items to watch for: Wrapping, ribbons, tinsel, lights, and small ornaments: If consumed, these may cause your pet to choke or have an internal blockage. Glass and metal hooks: Put delicate items up high to avoid breaks, as these items could cause a nasty scratch or puncture to your pet. Electrical wires: Many animals are prone to chewing on cords, which can lead to electrical shock, burns, and blockages if ingested. Christmas trees and standing displays: Curious pets, [...]

By |2023-12-05T09:23:52-07:00December 1, 2023|

How to Plan a Pet Safe Halloween

Updated: September 26, 2023 Like many holidays, Halloween’s a great excuse to stock up on sweets and treats. Having all of these extra goodies around is not only a major temptation to people, but also our pets. As our friend Dr. Ted Purcell says, “Have a plan for today!” “Treats and candies are not safe in a bag on the floor, a chair or bench – you need to be very mindful on Halloween, not just during, but also before and after.” Beware of These Halloween Hazards for Pets Here are some things for pet guardians to keep in mind to ensure they and their pets have an enjoyable evening. Protect Your Pet from Toxic Treats Amongst all the candies, chocolate is one of the most toxic for pets – Smaller chocolate covered items, such as raisins, are double trouble. Not only are both chocolate and raisins (dried grapes) toxic to pets, but the size and shape mimic many of the popular treats our companion animals may be used to scavenging from under chairs or tucked in cushions. The effect on a pet will depend on the amount and type of chocolate as well as the size of pet. Should your pet ingest something dangerous, we recommend you contact your veterinarian or for [...]

By |2023-10-03T10:16:07-06:00September 29, 2023|

A Guide to Getting Your Home Ready for Visually Impaired Pets

Animals are adept at using multiple senses. Dogs and cats rely heavily on their sense of smell and hearing to navigate their surroundings, so by making use of these senses, we can help our pets feel safe while familiarizing themselves with their new home. Practicing patience and keeping your home environment consistent are important when working with your visually impaired pet. It can take a new pet months to adjust and learn where things are in their new surroundings. Visually impaired companion animals can live a full and happy life with you. In this guide we’ll provide some tips to help your visually impaired pet adjust to life in your home. Utilize Their Sense of Smell Animals rely heavily on their sense of smell. To help your pet learn about the different areas in your home, you can use different scents to assist them in identifying each area. When choosing scents, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian to make sure they’re safe for your pet. Since animals have very sensitive noses, only use small amounts of the scent and always make sure your pet can’t ingest the scent. Help Your Pet Orient Themselves with Textured Surfaces Using textured materials, such as rugs to mark areas in your home, can help your pet learn [...]

By |2023-09-26T15:56:42-06:00August 23, 2023|

Preparing Your Pet for Fireworks Celebrations

Updated: May 31, 2023 Prepping Pets for Fireworks Celebrations Celebrations that involve fireworks can be very stressful for our pets, since they experience the world differently than we do. For an animal, fireworks are unexpected and unpredictable, and the noise and physical sensations fireworks create can cause a lot of stress. Here are some helpful tips and strategies to help make fireworks less scary and keep your pets safe. Before the Event 1. Seek Veterinary Advice: If you have concerns, speak with your vet before the event. Your vet may be able to prescribe medication or treatments to help your pet feel more comfortable during the fireworks. Contacting your vet ahead of time will give you time to try the medication and make sure it’s right for your pet. Pheromone devices like Adaptil and Feliway plug ins or collars may be useful for calming some pets. 2. Practice - If there is a holiday where fireworks are typically set off, help your pet learn to associate loud noises with good things. Practice by carrying treats with you and any time your pet hears a loud noise, like something being dropped on the ground, or a loud car passing by, give your pet plenty of treats. Desensitizing your pet in a positive way, can help them better cope. 3. Set Up [...]

By |2023-06-05T08:55:03-06:00May 31, 2023|

Spending Time Safely Outdoors With Your Pet

Published: September 18, 2020 / Last Update: May 16, 2023 Top Reasons to Get Outdoors With Your Pet! Exploring the outdoors isn’t just for dogs – you can do it with your other pets too! Why should you get outdoors with your pets? Being outdoors can support the mental health of people and pets by reducing boredom, depression and anxiety. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. Staying active has numerous health benefits and can help lift your spirits. Letting your pet roll around in the grass, on sidewalks or patios can help your them cool off and scratch some itches they may be unable to reach on their own. Always be sure to brush their coat before they go back indoors or into your vehicle to keep them from consuming anything they may have rolled in. Spending time outdoors together is a great way to bond with your pet! If you are enjoying time outdoors with your pet, the first thing we recommend is to check your local weather and air-quality conditions. We want to make sure everyone stays safe and has a great outdoor experience. Check Your Local Weather Check Your Local Air Quality 10 Outdoor Pet-Cautions Here are some other things to keep in mind when outside with your dog, cat or rabbit – the three [...]

By |2023-06-29T08:42:29-06:00May 16, 2023|

Emergency Pet Preparedness

Published: June 6, 2021 / Last Update: May 2, 2023 In Case of Emergency: Being Prepared with Your Pet Unexpected trouble can unfortunately strike at any time. While it’s not something we like to think about, being prepared for an emergency in advanced will give you peace of mind that both you and your pets will have what you need if a crisis occurs. The following are recommendations for building your own pet emergency kits. You can also download this list as a PDF to print at the bottom of this post to be kept as part of your emergency kit. Step 1: Prepare Your Supplies, Including... Food & Water: Non-perishable foods are best and should be kept in airtight, waterproof containers. Also ensure you have enough water for yourself, family and pets. We recommend having 10-14 days of consumables for all members of your pack.  Medication & Medical Records: Important medications and health records should be kept in a waterproof container. Prepare a document that outlines the feeding and medication instructions for your pet. Include copies of up-to-date vaccination records, in case your pet needs to be housed at a boarding facility temporarily. First Aid Kit: Work with your veterinarian to determine what these supplies may include for your pet. Standard kits often include: cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors, [...]

By |2023-05-04T14:11:14-06:00May 2, 2023|

Celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week

Be Kind to Animals Week You don’t need a special day or week to celebrate the human-animal bond by being kind to animals big and small in your community. This year's Be Kind to Animals Week is celebrated from May 7 - 13, 2023 and we are sharing five simple ways you can make a paws-itive impact on the lives of companion animals. 1. Get Your Pet from a Reputable Source Check your local animal shelter first if you or someone you know is thinking about expanding the family to accept a new pet. There are always homeless animals in shelters in need of a loving home, and pets adopted from reputable shelters, such as EHS, will have essential health checks, up-to-date vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters. Shelters like EHS also help ensure that the people and the pets are a good match for one another. If your are unable to find a suitable pet for your family at a shelter, do your research to find a responsible breeder. A responsible breeder will: provide information on the animal’s pedigree, let you see where the animals are being raised and let you meet at least one of the parents, and have health certificates and records of veterinary visits. Humane Canada offers a complete checklist of the essential [...]

By |2023-05-02T12:08:59-06:00May 2, 2023|

How To Know If Your Pet Is Overweight

Obesity is a common health problem for our companion animals. For many pet lovers, an overweight animal is an unfortunate reality, and one that can cause issues for pets and pet guardians alike. For National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, we want to help you identify if your pet is overweight and suggest some diets that can help support your pet reaching a healthier weight. How Do You Know If Your Pet Is Obese? Check out these obesity charts for both dogs and cats, so you can see how your pet’s weight compares. What Do You Do If Your Pet Is Obese? We recommend always asking your vet for guidance first and considering changes in your pet’s diet and physical activity. To help manage your dog or cat’s weight, ORIJEN® pet food has specially crafted formulas made to help support a healthy weight in dogs and cats. This includes ORIJEN Fit & Trim Recipe for dogs, a lean, protein-rich recipe to help support a healthy body weight in dogs, and ORIJEN Fit & Trim Recipe for cats, a food that includes balanced calories from protein and fat, plus naturally occurring L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy body weight. Taking your pet for more frequent or longer walks and adding extra play time, is a great way to increase your pet’s daily [...]

By |2022-10-12T13:48:29-06:00October 12, 2022|

Caring For Canines During Covid

Behaviour During COVID 5 Canine Considerations There is no denying that 2020 caused a major disruption in our lives. It has also caused a lot of change for our canine companions. Some changes to our routine or schedule may benefit our pets, but others can cause stress. Below we've assembled a few tips and resources to help prevent behavioural issues from developing while we move through 2021 with our best furr-iends. 1. Socialize Your New Puppy Socialization promotes healthy development and that can prevent future behavioural issues. During times of social distancing and gathering restrictions, it has made it difficult to get young puppies the appropriate socialization they need to thrive. Puppies undergo a sensitive developmental period until about 3-4 months of age, where they learn about their world and develop important memories. If a puppy is inadequately socialized or has negative experiences during this period, it can cause them to develop fearful behaviour. That is why it is essential that your puppy is introduced to various experiences during that time. We've developed a free printable resource on basic Puppy Socialization, which you can find along with others on our Behaviour Resources page. Socialization activities may need to be modified to follow public health measures, so we're sharing some strategies which allow for social distancing: Bring your puppy outside in [...]

By |2021-03-28T17:01:09-06:00March 23, 2021|