PANAMA CITY — With Christmas approaching, some pets don reindeer ears and holiday sweaters and others have stockings waiting to be filled.
“We have to remember that our pets share our ‘area,’” pointed out Dr. Carla Hubbard, DVM, of Critter Care. “Animals are stressed in the holidays when there is a revolving door. A lot of animals go missing with people coming and going, so get your animal microchipped.”
Hubbard has seen a lot during her 30 years as a vet.
“Anything in a spray bottle, such as spray snow, can be toxic. Even pine needles can be toxic in large enough amounts,” said Hubbard, who also warned not to add chemicals to the water for live trees. “They will drink out of that, especially puppies and kittens. Keep cords high enough; it’s not only a health but a fire hazard.”
In July, Critter Care moved into the building at 2620 E. 15th St., where the Humane Society of Bay County had resided before moving back into “The Igloo” at 1600 Bay Ave.
“We’ve tried to make it as homey as possible,” said Hubbard, as we sat on the couch in the living room waiting area.
Framed prints hung on the wall, while red garland, lit greenery and a poinsettia adorned the office window openings. But these decorations, which can cause intestinal problems if ingested, are always kept out of reach of the animals.
Hubbard admits she has dressed up her pets for Christmas photos and sees nothing wrong with it, “as long as the animals are not horribly objectionable, and as long as they can’t chew it. After the holidays, I have to do a lot of surgeries to remove foreign bodies, bones, tinsel in cats, ribbons in cats and dogs.”
A list of her own furry family members sounds like the “12 Days of Christmas” — 12 horses, 10 parrots, 7 dogs, 6 cats, three llamas, 2 lemurs and a miniature donkey.
The donkey was a birthday gift from her husband.
“Giving a pet as a gift is usually a bad idea,” she said. “It may be awesome to see that cute little puppy or kitten with the ribbon around its neck — just be certain that it will be equally appreciated two or three months or even years from then.”
Instead, she suggests giving doggie beds and toys with vouchers for a shelter or humane organization.
Christmas treats: During the holidays, families’ tables are filled with a lot of tempting treats, including meat bones.
“I would never recommend bones of any kind. The worst culprits on the holidays are fatty meats and foods with a lot of fat. Mostly after the holidays we will see dogs vomiting and having blood in their diarrhea, even sometimes pancreatis, a life-threatening problem. When it comes to table scraps, they just shouldn’t be shared,” said Hubbard, who added onions can kill cats and dogs.
If your stocking leaks a Hershey’s kiss on the floor before you can pick it up, should you panic?
“Chocolate is not nearly as toxic as it is made out to be, unless it is in larger quantities. But remember, dogs are smaller, and a small section can be like you eating a whole big bar,” she warned. “If you feel your dog has ingested something he didn’t need to within the hour, put a handful of salt in their mouth and they will vomit. Follow it up with water and you can call your vet, but they will get over it.”
A lot of animals have food sensitivities, which can not only cause upset stomach, but skin problems.
“If animals are not used to getting treats, don’t give them a lot during the holidays,” Hubbard said.
Nicole Poch, owner of 3 Dogs & a Chick Bakery and Boutique in Fort Walton Beach, has been making homemade dog treats for 10 years, first at her store in Orlando.
Poch, who admits she no longer tastes everything she bakes, leaves tasting to her dogs.
“The animals taste-test everything,” said Poch, who developed recipes through talking with her vet and research. “We see what’s popular. A lot of dogs have chicken allergies, so we only have one chicken treat. And wheat is often a sensitivity, so five of our flavors are wheat-free.”
She gives her dogs a treat two to three times a day at the most.
“Sometimes a customer comes in and says their dog has never had people food. But this isn’t people food like spaghetti and pizza. A lot of times this is better for them, no preservatives and no chemicals — all natural with a six to eight ingredient average in most recipes.”
The treats can be ordered online, 3DogsAndaChick.com, and shipped anywhere in the U.S. or picked up at the doggy bakery, 130 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E.
Poch’s easy recipe for Peanut Butter Bones is included in her gift pack.
“This has quite a bit of peanut butter, so it is real peanut buttery. They smell really good,” she said. “We get all our ingredients from Sysco. Most people have these things around the house.”
Peanut Butter Bones
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached flour
¼ cup all-natural creamy peanut butter
¼ cup canola oil
Mix all ingredients together and form a dough, then roll it out ¼-inch thick. Use bone cutters to make dog bone shapes. Bake the bones in the oven at 300 degrees for 45 minutes.
Source: Nicole Poch, 3 Dogs and a Chick