Nibbles and Bits - December 2006

Christmas puppies
As the holiday season comes upon us, many people consider buying or adopting a puppy for the family for Christmas. It may seem like a wonderful gift (and puppies are certainly wonderful), but you need to consider a few things first. Christmas is a busy time of year with guests staying over, people visiting, food preparation, present wrapping and all the other things that keep us occupied during the holidays. Puppies need a lot of attention and training especially early on and it is sometimes difficult to devote the time needed at this time of year. There are also more hazards for a puppy this time of year, including eating ornaments, ribbon, chocolate and Christmas plants. There is also extra noise and activity that may frighten a young puppy. Maybe wrapping up a collar and puppy toy with a promise to get a puppy later in the year would be a good choice. Your family could then spend the time together to pick out the puppy that is just right for you. If you are considering getting a puppy for someone else, make sure that they will be able to make the commitment to feed, train, walk and obtain veterinary care for the pet for the next 12-15 years. If so, they will certainly have a joyful companion!

Frontline and Heartgard
As the weather turns colder, we tend to forget about fleas, ticks and heartworm, but we shouldn’t. Outdoor fleas are indeed gone once we get consistent frost, but they can still lurk in the house. Ticks can be active all winter. Sheltered areas such as thick brush and woodpiles can harbor ticks year round. Mosquitoes may be gone for now, but the heartworm preventatives also protect your pet from roundworms and hookworms which are intestinal parasites that can be found year round and can be contagious to people. So don’t forget to stop by our office to refill your Heartgard and Frontline for the winter.