Hill's for the holidays: Making sure our pets are well groomed, well fed, and stay safe this season
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our pets are as much a part of our holiday celebration as any other family member. I know my dog Hazel is! So, how do we get our fur-family holiday ready? It's all about priorities. My top priority is keeping Hazel safe this time of year because she is a trouble magnet. Hazel’s top priority is having a full tummy at all times!
I had the privilege of interviewing celebrity dog groomer Jess Rona, and Hill's Pet Nutrition licensed veterinarian Dr. Kristin Wuellner DVM, to get expert advice about how to keep pets well-groomed and safe from holiday hazards. Jess discussed how dog grooming and keeping pets clean can make them the star of the holiday party! Dr. Wuellner shared some recommendations on how to ensure your pet is well-fed during a season when we all pack on a few extra pounds. We sat down for an on-camera interview to talk turkey- and chocolate, grapes, and onions too!
CLICK HERE to watch the interview!
In this video, we share expert advice about how to keep pets safe from holiday hazards like toxic food, and hazardous holiday decorations. Dr. Wuellner shared some recommendations on how to ensure your pet is well-fed with a balanced pet food that is tailor made for your specific pet, like the selection of canine diets from Hill's Pet Nutrition. This is especially important during a season when we all pack on a few extra pounds.
Dr. Wuellner is the Business Account Manager at Hill's Pet Nutrition. Her passion for pet care extends out of the exam room. She wants to empower pet owners to make the best decisions for their pets. This is incredibly valuable because not all veterinary clinics invest in educating their team's about products and pet food that can enrich the quality of life for your pet. Not only does she educate pet owners, but she also extends a helping paw to other veterinary professionals.
Dr. Wuellner cautions dog owners to keep these people-food items out of our canine's "jaws and nose-boop areas" or feed them as table scraps:
-Turkey skin
-Raw or cooked bones
-Chocolate
-Grapes and raisins
-Onions and garlic (allium plant family)
The veterinarian also recommends to keep your pets safe from harmful or toxic holiday plants, like mistletoe and holly, floral arrangements, garlands, and ornaments. Ingestion of any of these items, even in small amounts, can cause a spectrum of health issues that cause your pet pain and discomfort. Problems can range from minor, like upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea, to severe reactions, like organ failure or gastrointestinal obstructions, that cause expensive hospitalization and even lead to death. By being cautious and empowering yourself with knowledge common household toxins, emergency veterinary visits and added expenses of vet bills can be prevented this holiday season.
Despite our best efforts to keep them safe, sometimes our pets find a way to eat something they shouldn't. Just ask Hazel, aka corn cob. What do you do if your veterinary clinic is closed over the holidays and your pet ingests a potential toxin? You should reach out to a local animal emergency veterinary hospital.
Emergency clinics are often overwhelmed during the holiday season. There are online resources that can help you determine if an item is poisonous to your pet. Paws For Reaction published a detailed list of holiday hazards and potential pet poisons, as well as safety tips and best prevention methods. The best online resource to determine if a food, ingredient, or item is toxic to dogs, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control website. Pet Poison Helpline has a 24/7 Animal Poison Control Centre phoneline 1-855-764-7661 (paid service) you can call to speak with a veterinarian if your pet eats something toxic.
Jess Rona may have jokes, but when it comes to dog grooming she is no joke. She is hailed the most influential groomer today. Her signature musical slow-mo blowout videos have created a dog pack of fans on social media. She is based out of Los Angeles, California, and has spent 20 years developing an energetic-based dog grooming technique, so it's only natural that her energy, jokes, and magnetism has attracted an impressive celebrity clientele.
Jess discussed how dog grooming and keeping pets clean can make them the star of the holiday party! She dishes the dirt on the most popular holiday dog grooming trends of 2022, the craziest grooming requests she has ever received, pet grooming safety, and the truth about dying your dog in different colours. She also gave me the dirt about why some pet owners are asking her for dog hair- and what they are using it for. But she cautions: clean pet hair only, folks!
In this video you will also find out how each of them are celebrating the season with their pets and what gifts they are giving their fur-family. Spoiler alert: their holiday pet gifts are pretty affordable! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or anything in between, these tips will help you keep your pet safe during holiday festivities!
CLICK HERE to watch the video interview on YouTube and get the full scoop- but not the poop! Shop Hill's Pet Nutrition at Chewy.com if you want to bring Hill's home for the holidays, and check out celebrity groomer Jess Rona's work on her website. Hazel and I hope you and your pets celebrate the holidays safely and in style!
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