Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Pet First Aid

January 2nd is National Pet Travel Safety Day,

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but it is also a great time to assess and upgrade best practices for transporting your dog or cat safely.  Whether you’re heading to the vet or groomer, off to the park, or hitting the road for vacation, travel safely.  Thousands of animals get injured and die in car accidents every year.  During a collision, a 50-lb. dog riding in a 30-mph car will experience 1,500 lbs. of force if thrown from the vehicle. Newton’s first law of motion states, “a body in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by an outside force,” so even after brakes are applied, an unrestrained pet will continue 30, 40, 50 mph or more until something stops him. Sadly, what stops him may be the dashboard, seat back, or windshield, all of which can cause devastating injury. 

If the pet survives the accident but is not restrained, he may escape through a window or door, broken or opened by the impact, only to end up being hit by an on-coming vehicle.  According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), animals moving around in cars are the third worst distraction to drivers, ranking behind children and cell phones.  Additionally, if you are injured in an accident, your protective Chihuahua, Poodle or Rottweiler might prevent paramedics from quickly offering aid out of fear of being bitten, so Animal Control may first need to be called to confine your pet. Their protectiveness may delay emergency personnel from providing you much-needed medical assistance, so restraining your pets in motor vehicles is a win-win.

Dangerous Dough Ornaments & Pets

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This favorite holiday tradition can prove deadly to pets!   

Three simple ingredients:  

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water 

can be mixed, flattened, and shaped into the doggone cutest tree ornaments, but if ingested by the family dog, joy can turn tragic due to the abundance of salt in the recipe!  Additional complications can arise from the paint and glitter that make the design sparkle, and…the hook the ornament hangs from!  Cats too can suffer from eating bread dough ornaments, yet they are less likely to consume the decoration.  

Salt toxicity, also known as hypernatremia, can result in the death of your pet!  Signs include:

  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Lack of coordination, tremors, seizures
  • Excessive thirst and urination
  • Decreased appetite
  • Lethargy or collapse

If creating dough ornaments is a family tradition, take extra measures to hang them high on the tree out of paws reach and secure the tree to the ceiling so that it cannot topple down.  If your pet consumes a dough ornament, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately for life-saving measures.  

Although labeled non-toxic, non-allergenic, and even non-irritating, it is important to note that children’s Playdoh is made from the same three ingredients:  water, salt, and flour, so if ingested by pets, the same ill effects can result. Some homemade playdough recipes also contain tartaric acid (potassium bitartrate ), the deadly toxin also found in grapes.  Be aware of doggie dangers and keep them out of paws reach by signing up for a Pet First Aid Class today by contacting Creature Comforts Pet Services at [email protected]

Pets Safety Tips and your Holiday Tree

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Whether artificial or real, you must look out for your pets when decorating for the holidays. To keep dogs and cats safe, here are four pet safety tips concerning the holiday tree:

1) Male dogs and cats pee on trees.  It is that simple, so when their pee station moves indoors, it becomes confusing when you say, “No!”  Consider leaving your tree undecorated for a day or two, teaching pets to stay away before you decorate. Also, choose the location wisely.  Do not place your tree in front of the window Fido watches for the mailman or the windowsill kitty suns herself daily.  To keep pets away, a short white picket fence around the tree may look festive, or giving them their own new and interesting thing to check out may do the trick. 

2) To further dog or catproof your tree, try bitter-scented sprays or position oranges, lemons, or grapefruit underneath, but only if you know these citrus scents are unappealing to your pet.  Attaching the tree, with an invisible fishing line, to a cup hook in your ceiling, could prevent it from falling over should your cat decide to use it as a jungle gym.  Of course, never place candles on the tree and tape down light cords so that pets cannot chew or get caught in them, but always supervise when any fixtures are plugged in. 

3) Never tempt pets by hanging dog biscuits, popcorn garlands, candy canes, or other food items on your tree.  Also, take care with scented packages (i.e. food, soaps, potpourri) placed underneath as well as ribbons, tinsel, ornament hooks, and string.  Any of these objects inside your dog or cat can be CAT-astrophic!  

4) Real trees require water, so cover the tree water securely with foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic lid with an “X” cut through (where the trunk goes).  The oils seeping into the water from the tree are toxic!  Additionally, cut trunks are often coated with preservatives and pesticides, so your pet will get sick and need quick veterinary care if he drinks tree water!  Pine and fir needles are sharp and can cause digestive upsets, so pick up any needles that drop before your pet ingests them or gets them caught in a paw or fur. Fake needles are not safe either if consumed, so monitor pets around ALL holiday decor.  

When you have a dog or cat, you have a furry toddler for their lifetime, so being mindful of potential problems and keeping dangers out of paws and claws reach can keep ‘the merry’ in your holiday season. Make it a New Year’s resolution to sign up for a pet first aid class by contacting Theresa at Creature Comforts or check out www.creature-comforts-pets.com  for 2025 classes!

Top 5 Holiday Safety Tips

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Practice these Top 5 Holiday Pet Safety Tips, and sign up for a Pet First Aid Class so you will have the skills and confidence to help your best friend!   

With Christmas upon us, the chances for ingestion of pet-UNfriendly foods and choking incidents, multiplies, so supervise, supervise, supervise throughout the celebration, and learn pet first aid…  

  • ROUTINE: Walk at your normal walk time, feed on schedule and don’t forget to play — it does a body good (human, canine, or feline).  Don’t forget vitamins, washing bedding, scooping litter. Holidays create added chores, but change can create anxiety in your pet coupled with the intense energy you are giving off at this time of year. Sticking to your normal routine will help. 
  • DECORATIONS:  Don’t let pets access tree water.  Don’t hang edible items on the tree.  Take care with candles and holiday scents which can upset canine and feline noses.  Ribbon, tinsel, and bread dough ornaments can all be hazardous.  When you have a furry child, you have a toddler for life that you must keep safe.  
  • COMPANY:  Dedicate playtime just for you and your dog or cat BEFORE company arrives, and then let kitties retreat to a quiet back bedroom with safe toys to keep them out of mischief — scratching post, kitty tree or chew toys for dogs, maybe even quiet music, or a radio to drowned out noise coming from the boisterous humans. If you feel your pet can make an appearance, let him join in the fun, but remind children (0-99) not to bother pets when they are eating or sleeping, and to never pull ears or tails. If kitty’s ears and whiskers go back or your pup utters a low-gutteral warning, it’s time for socializing to cease. Pheromone sprays (Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats) may take the edge off their anxiety.  Also, take care to make sure doors and gates are closed so as not to have a pet escape, and kindly ask overnight guests to keep suitcases closed so that your pet won’t sniff out trouble.  
  • FOOD & WATER:  Anything on the floor is fair game, including toothpicks from hors d’oeuvres!  Designate a place to deposit used cocktail sticks, and safely throw away bones, foil, and plastic wraps. Yeast from bread rising on counter tops will continue to ferment in a pet’s tummy, causing life-threatening bloat, an intestinal blockage and/or alcohol poisoning.  Have pet-safe treats available and avoid giving Fido or Fluffy salty foods, gravies, dark meat and skins, and NO COOKED BONES of any type! With the heat cranked up in our homes and potentially upset tummies brought on by holiday stress, make sure your pets are staying well-hydrated.  
  • QUALITY TIME: Take time out daily to show your furry family members how much you love them!  Drop your purse, briefcase, or backpack when you come home and get on the floor and play; make time for a walk WITHOUT your cell phone so that you tune in to your dog; let your cat curl in your lap and give her your undivided attention. Paying attention is one of the best ways to make sure you pets stay safe – by noticing them and keeping their environment safe.

For those moments when life happens, know where your nearest 24-hour animal emergency hospital is!

Sharing your life with a pet should be among your greatest blessings, so rejoice in knowing a four-legged friend has chosen to share his life with you, and in the New Year, learn or refresh your Pet First Aid skills so that you can help your dog or cat when he or she needs you most!

Is July 4th your cat’s least favorite holiday?

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It is not just from sudden booms from fireworks, but holidays in general tend to take a toll on cats.  Cats derive a huge amount of security and comfort from things being predictable.  Any holiday that changes the normal events of the day is harder for our feline friends.

Here are some things you can do to help your cat to adjust to holidays.

Create a cozy hideaway – Offer a secret place to hide that is comfortable and cozy.   Maybe a familiar bed or blanket in a private cat only spot she can dash off to as things get going in your household. A clock wrapped in a blanket can offer a reassuring tick or vibration. Using feline pheromone spray on the blankets also can sometimes help.

Play some soft classical or species specific relaxing music – Research suggests that cats find music calming.  Don’t make it loud to drown out the fireworks though!

Close the curtains – The flashes of light and the extra activity outside can be disturbing to cats.

Take a deep breath – Don’t react to the extra load of having more going on or to the sounds of fireworks.  Your cat will take his cues from you about staying calm.

Consider veterinary help – If you know your cat reacts to fireworks or the extra activity from past experience, ask your veterinarian about temporary anxiety medications.

Offer something new – Try a brand new toy or scratch pad, distraction is…well distracting.

Keep the drinks away – Alcohol is sometimes a part of the 4th of July celebration, but keep those drinks out of paws reach. Alcohol can intoxicate your cat.  It can quickly become a life threatening emergency such as respiratory failure.

Watch the door – With more outdoor activity and guests coming and going, do your best not to let your cat out.  It may be especially difficult to coax her back inside at this time. Warn your guests to be on the lookout for your pet as they go in and out.

Make sure your cat is microchipped – In the unfortunate event your cat does get out and ends up at the local shelter they can scan and find your information immediately and get your friend back to you.  Remember to keep your chip information updated also, otherwise it is just a number on a microchip.  Without a microchip no one will have any easy way to identify your pet.  Collars and tags can also be helpful, but can be snagged on a tree or branch and be lost.  For cats, stretchy collars with a phone number printed on the collar are best.

Pet Food Guidelines

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When it comes to pet nutrition it boils down to what works best for your particular animal, that includes what is tasty and interesting, and nutritionally appropriate. There is such a huge variety out there these days it can be hard to choose.  For the most part, any of the major brands out there will provide adequate nutrition for your pet, so there is no need to stress over it.   Here are a few pointers to help.  Keep in mind that quality and price are not always equal.   

First look for high quality protein listed as the first ingredient.  For this you will want to see the specific name of the animal ingredient (i.e. chicken, beef, lamb).  For instance, “Poultry” could mean chicken, turkey, or duck. Also “meal”, as in Chicken meal, could mean non meat items such as beaks, feathers, and feet are included and counted as protein.  If your pet has special food needs or allergies, it is important to know exactly what you are getting.

Second, just like with human foods, avoid ingredients that you can’t pronounce, as well as dyes. Many dry pet foods use grain ingredients to act as binders and fillers.  Wheat, soy, and corn are common, but better choices are brown rice, lentils, oatmeal, and quinoa.  

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have established guidelines that pet food manufacturers need to follow and these can be very helpful in understanding what you are getting. 

  •  Look for  “Complete and Balanced” on the pet food label.  This means the contains all the required nutrients and they are in the correct ratios.  Foods that are listed as “intermittent” or “supplemental” are not nutritionally adequate for a healthy animal.
  • A pet food containing the word “with”, such as “Super Cat Food with Chicken”, has to contain at least 3% of that ingredient.
  • Words such as “Premium”, “Gourmet”, and “Senior”  are allowed, but have no technical definition and most likely will mean you will pay more and that is about it.  
  • However, kitten and puppy foods do have the required ingredients for growing animals.  Look for “Puppy”, “Kitten”, or ‘Growth” on the label.  “All life stages” is appropriate for young animals, as well as gestating/lactating females.

Cats and dogs have different digestive tracts from ours and require food that is specific to their species.  

Cats do well on multiple smaller feedings of wet food in a day, similar to eating several mice per day.  They are obligate carnivores meaning they require animal protein at each meal.  Cats do not do well if they stop eating for more than 24 hours, so if you notice this in your kitty have them checked by a vet right away.  Cats also get quite a bit of moisture through their food.

Dogs, on the other hand, have much more hardy digestive systems, designed to occasionally withstand a fast and even manage on somewhat old meat.  In their wild past they may not have had any luck on the hunt and have to go hungry for a day or two.  Their intestines are much shorter than a human’s and cannot digest plant fiber very well.  Again, in the wild, most of their “vegetables” would have come from the partially digested contents of a prey animal stomach.  So any plant ingredients need to be cooked and finely chopped.

There are other factors related to eating besides just nutrition to consider.  Kibble size should be appropriate to the size of animal you are feeding.  Very large kibble could be a choking hazard for a smaller dog.  It is best for your pet to chew their food for the maximum absorption of nutrients. There are a whole lot of possibilities for slowing down a fast eater, from simply tossing the food over an open area to be picked up one piece at a time, to one of the many food puzzles available.  How much to feed comes down to breed, and exercise level.

Nutrition in pets can be a complex science, but does not need to be a source of stress for you and your animal companion.  Fortunately we do have AAFCO guidelines to help regulate the industry and make it clear what our animals are eating.