The RSPCA is urging pet-owners to be prepared for any emergencies which arise over Christmas – and to ensure that the festive time is as non-stressful as possible for our fluffy friends.

From toxic foods, the dangers of decorations and keeping your pet calm among the Christmas chaos, here are some of the RSPCA’s top tips for a ‘pet-safe’ Christmas…

Prevent your pets from being poisoned

Most pet owners know that chocolate and onions can never be given to dogs and if your dog does accidently eat these foods you should ring your vet straight away for advice.

However, less well-known is that raisins, currants and sultanas – commonly added to festive bakes – are also extremely dangerous to dogs.

[Don't give your dog alcohol – party hats are probably fine though]

West Highland terrier Harry, pictured above, spent a worrying few days recovering at a vets over Christmas last year after pinching a bag of raisins from his owner’s handbag.

His owner, Rachel Butler-Mallett, from Derby, said: “Fortunately I realised what had happened and called an emergency out-of-hours vets straightaway. Blood tests showed that Harry’s kidneys had started to fail as a result of eating the raisins.

“He was put on a drip for more than 20 hours – we were extremely worried about him and whether he would be left with permanent kidney damage. Thankfully he was OK.

“We were left with a large bill at the end of it but we were just so grateful he recovered.

“Hopefully other people will read this and will know what to do if they are ever in the same situation.”

Other foods to keep away from your pet include leeks, garlic, macadamia nuts, cooked bones (e.g. chicken bones), alcohol and any leftover food which has gone mouldy.

If you believe your pet has eaten something toxic, contact your vet immediately.

Perilous presents

“It’s not just food which is a hazard to our pets – some household items can be dangerous too,” said Alice Potter, from the RSPCA’s Companion Animals team. “Popular festive plants including poinsettias, holly, ivy, mistletoe can be mildly toxic, so avoid these if you have pets.

Lilies are extremely toxic to cats – never have these in the home if you have cats. Tinsel and wrapping paper might be tempting for your pet to play with – but make sure they don’t eat it!

“Silica gel, which is often put in packaging, can cause your pet stomach upset if ingested, as can pot pourri.”

Avoid overindulging your pet

“It’s normal for us to overindulge over the Christmas period – but don’t pass on this habit to your pets, no matter how tempting it may be to shower them with tasty treats!” said Alice.

“Extra weight gain can lead to health problems, so to keep your pet healthy and happy, keep treats to a minimum.”

Don’t forget to stock up

There is always so much going on at Christmas that it can be hard to remember everything! But planning ahead can avoid any potential panic. Alice said: “Make sure you have the number of an emergency vet to hand, just in case. If your pet is on medication, stock up before the holidays so you don’t get caught short.”

Keeping your pet calm among the chaos

Christmas is a chaotic time and this could cause our pets to feel stressed.

“You can help your pet cope with the chaos by keeping to their normal routine as much as possible,” said Alice. “It will also help your pet if you provide them with somewhere cosy and quiet where they can retreat to if the excitement gets too much.

“You might have lots of guests coming and going, so make sure doors aren’t left open because there would be a chance that your pet could get out when you aren’t watching."

Heath Veterinary Clinic in Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint is warning dog owners of the dangers of acorns. The veterinary clinic has recently had a case of a dog becoming very ill from eating these seemingly innocuous nuts.

Max, a 4 year old Yellow Labrador, had been happily playing in the woods with acorns and leaves but his owners didn’t realise he had been swallowing the acorns. Late Friday night, they noticed Max becoming lethargic, acting out of character, unable to settle and drooling excessively, so they contacted Heath Vets who advised them to bring Max into the clinic straight away.

The poorly pooch was examined by Vet, Nicky Chinneck, who was concerned that Max had ingested, or come into contact with, something toxic. She quickly gave him an emetic injection which induces vomiting. Within minutes, Max vomited up a large quantity of acorns.

It is common for dogs to be exposed to acorns during the autumn and winter months. Acorns contain tannic acid, which is believed to be the toxic component, and can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Signs of toxic illness can include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a lack of appetite and lethargy. Ingested acorns can also cause an intestinal blockage.

Max felt very sorry for himself but started to improve quickly. The clinic staff fed him charcoal enhanced food to absorb any remaining remnants of the acorns in his stomach and intestines. Being a Labrador meant he was happy to be eating again, despite everything! Max’s initial blood tests show that his liver and kidneys have not been affected by the toxin but he will have further tests done after a week to check there is no lasting damage.

Sarah Solomon, Practice Manager at Heath Vets, said:

“Max’s owners acted quickly so Max should make a full recovery. Whilst it can be difficult to watch your dog’s every move when out walking them, it’s important to try and ensure they don’t eat or play with acorns due to the toxic ingredient. If Max hadn’t been treated so quickly, the outcome may have been very different. Be aware of the symptoms of toxicity and if you are concerned in any way about your pet, contact your vets immediately.”

Dog arthritis is one of the most common diseases that affect canines; especially large breed dogs (60-90 lbs) the best thing you can do is to prevent the occurrence of this disease with the appropriate supplements when your dog is 4 or 5 years old and not wait until symptoms show, but if your dog is already presenting symptoms and/or pain you should consider the option of natural treatment for your pet’s condition.

Osteoarthritis in dogs (or just dog arthritis) can be treated effectively with natural supplements that are as effective as commonly prescribed drugs and much safer because of the less risk of side effects. Prescribed drugs may relieve pain, but they also can cause further degeneration of your dog’s joints and health, which could include, damage to the liver, kidneys, muscles and gastrointestinal bleeding, among others.

Just as human arthritis, dog arthritis tends to get worse with age, and you can find some senior dog food formulas that claim to contain glucosamine and chondroitin, both of them are supplements used to prevent and treat dog arthritis, but in the majority of cases, the amount included is not enough to do any difference in your dog’s symptoms. So, probably the best option is to feed your dog regular dog food and back that up with a supplement. Below you will find some of the most effective supplement used for the treatment of arthritis in dogs.

Herbal Glucosamine Blend, which is one of the most comprehensive canine muscle and joint support formulations available today, it includes Glucosamine HCl, MSM and Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C, along with a proprietary herbal blend of Yucca, Devil’s Claw, White Willow, Meadowsweet and Alfalfa.

Glucosamine is essential for the formation of joint cartilage and synovial fluid, MSM, has an anti-inflammatory effect slows the progression of arthritis and relieves pain.

Alfalfa and Yucca extract, a combination of five time-honored herbs for chronic rheumatic conditions it also includes Burdock, Licorice, and Shepherd’s Purse. This extract is designed to help the body cope with the pain, swelling, and stiffness of arthritis and rheumatism while maintains the tone of the liver and kidneys to help eliminate excess waste materials and water from the joints.

Ortho-Flex Joint Ease Supplement for dogs this formula is a supplement for muscle, ligament, tendon, cartilage, and bone problems. It does not only to help in the relief of pain, but to also treat the underlying problem. It really helps older animals. This formula contains Chondroitin Sulfate, which is used to help dogs with joint conditions and arthritis.

The benefits of using natural, organic pet products are in the preventive measure, you want a healthy pet with a longer lifespan, but also an enhanced quality of life, there’s no use on living longer if the quality of life is not good, holistic pet care, will provide a better quality of life for your pet and ultimately will save you money with less visits to the veterinarian, bills and prescriptions.

Dr. Jeff has a major in Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary and runs the day-to-day operations of her home-based business and website in which you can learn how homeopathic remedies could prolong and improve your pet’s life. She can also help you start your own home-based 100{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} natural pet supplies business, you can visit online at:

http://arthritisdogsreview.com/