Hello lovely readers,
We have been so busy here at Smarty Paws getting ready for Christmas. It is such a busy time of year for everyone – but don’t forget to get your grooms booked in and check for any last-minute cancellations if you haven’t managed to book! We love this time of year, so please feel free to pop in and give us a visit!
We hope you have been enjoying our beautiful window display. We are delighted to announce that we won Chilwell Road’s Best Dressed Window last week, meaning our lovely Leanne got to collect a certificate and prize from the Mayor of Beeston! To top it off, our very own Leanne got to turn on Beeston’s Christmas Lights with The Mayor and Kingdom Rapper!
We will be closing for Christmas on Tuesday the 23rd of December and will re-open on Thursday the 2nd of January 2020!
As Christmas quickly approaches, we wanted to remind you of some of our most useful tips over the Holiday period:
Christmas brings lots of changes within our households! A tree indoors, lights and decorations – perfect for chewing! Rearranged furniture and lots of wrapped presents dying to be ripped open. Lots of visitors and an excessive amount of snacks ready to be devoured. With a little preparation, we can make our homes safe and welcoming for both our human and canine companions. We thought it might be useful to give you a few tips to keep your dog happy and healthy over the holiday season…
Christmas Trees – Pine needles can be toxic or could puncture a dog’s stomach or intestines, even needles from artificial trees can be dangerous! Make sure your tree is kept in a stable stand and anchored firmly to the floor, wall or ceiling to reduce any risk of it toppling over!
Christmas time is full of delicious treats, nuts, chocolate, rich fatty foods and alcoholic drinks – all of these can be dangerous and discomforting for your dogs. It is important to be aware of this and to advise any guests not to feed anything to your dog! Stock up on appropriate snacks for your four-legged friend and try to keep mealtimes regular to avoid them feeling too hungry.
Decorations – Be aware of the decorations in your home. Tablecloths and runners can be irresistible to dogs that love to play tug-of-war! Ensure they are secured or out of reach. Whilst tinsel may be sparkly and festive, it can be dangerous if swallowed by your dog. It may get wrapped around the base of the tongue and cause choking, or potentially intestinal obstruction or vomiting – beware! Some decorations contain substances that are poisonous to dogs, be aware of what you are choosing to put up and consider carefully where they are positioned, preferably out of reach! Ensure any wires or extension leads are covered and taped down, and don’t forget to unplug those fairy lights when they are not in use!
In all the hustle and bustle, make sure your dog has a quiet, private and safe space to have a break should they need it. Try to stick to their usual routine through the holiday season to reduce stress and anxiety that can come with the festive season. Take note of your vet’s Christmas hours (just in case of emergency), and as always make sure your dog is chipped and collared with up to date contact information.
We also wanted to raise awareness about rawhide. A lot of christmas doggie treats are made from rawhide, a toxic and dangerous dog chew that is made from cattle or horse hide that is soaked in toxic chemicals to rid them of hair and fat. Upon testing, these chews have contained traces of arsenic, mercury, chromium and formaldehyde. These are extremely dangerous for your dog and can lead to intestinal blockages and poisoning. Please take special care when choosing treats for your dog, ensuring they are 100% natural and made with safe ingredients.
From all of us here at Smarty Paws, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
