With the holiday season upon us, we all want to have fun buying gifts for our fur babies. During the holidays and throughout the year, it is imperative to shop with safety in mind! Below are some tips to help you make good decisions when buying pet gifts.
Dog Gifts to Avoid:
- Flimsy, cheap toys that will fall apart
- Toys and treats that are not the correct size for the recipient's breed or age
- Toys with small, detachable items like buttons, ribbon, bells, beads, squeakers, or plastic eyes
- Toys containing toxic plastic and vinyl materials like BPA and phthalates
- Toys with sharp edges
- Human foods and treats
- Rawhide bones - If ingested, rawhide can cause intestinal blockages and require surgery
- Bones with marrow - Fatty marrow should be scooped out to prevent potential pancreatitis in some dogs
- Cooked bones - These can easily splinter and cause serious injury
Safe Dog Gifts:
- Durable rubber and nylon toys such as Kong® or Nylabone® brands
- Toys that are the appropriate size for your dog's breed and age
- Stuffed toys (only for dogs that do not eat their toys) - we recommend options that don't have stuffing in them, like Skinneez®
- Sturdy, well-made rope toys
- Balls and retriever sticks that are big enough not to pose a choking hazard
- Veterinary Oral Health Association (VOHA)-approved dental chews
- Healthy dog treats - given sparingly
Cat Gifts to Avoid:
- Flimsy, cheaply-made toys
- Toys with small pieces like feathers, string, ribbon, elastic, or cord that can be chewed off and ingested
- Toys that are too small and pose a choking hazard
- Toys with sharp edges
- Toys that can entangle/strangle your cat
- Foam that can be chewed and ingested, causing gastrointestinal obstructions
- Toys that have not been removed from potentially hazardous packaging
- Collars and bandanas without a safety breakaway feature
- Human food and treats
- Bones of any sort
Safe Cat Gifts:
- Balls that are too large to pose a choking hazard such as ping pong balls or Kong® Naturals Straw Balls
- Treat puzzle toys
- Organic catnip toys
- Clean sock filled with organic catnip and stitched securely
- Well-made activity mat toys
- Laser pointers - Do not shine directly toward your cat
- A simple, clean cardboard box - think Amazon® delivery
- Collars and bandanas without a safety breakaway feature
- VOHA-approved dental treats
- Healthy cat treats - given sparingly
We are not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned in this article. We have offered them for reference as examples of safe pet gifts. Luckily, the best gifts we can give our pets are attention and love. However, if you can't resist buying gifts for your pet and have any questions, feel free to call us.
336-664-1522