Posts in Category: Seasonal Pet Care

Do you believe in Santa “Paws”? At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we certainly do! Join us in making this holiday season a happy one for pet shelters!

The holidays are upon us, which means lots of cheer, lots of delicious food, and for some of us, lots of holiday travel to see family and friends far and near. If you’re a pet parent and you want to bring Fido or Kitty along, you might feel stressed about how to handle holiday travel for pets.

Never fear! The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital has the tips you need for a successful trip. 

Fall is the perfect time to get back to nature, and whether you’re planning to hit the hiking trails or simply take long, leisurely autumn walks with pets, our team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital has you covered with health and safety tips to keep you and your pets on the move.

While the Halloween season is full of tricks and treats that can be fun for the whole family, it also comes with plenty of hazards for our furry friends. Practicing Halloween pet safety is a great way to avoid an accident before it happens. With the following tips from Bowman Veterinary Hospital, you can minimize hazards and ensure a fun season for everyone.

The Fourth of July holiday season is a fun and festive one, but for many of our four-legged friends, it can be a bit stressful. Noisy gatherings and loud booms can raise pet anxiety and put our July 4th pet safety skills to the test. 

Calming Pet Anxiety 

Pet anxiety tends to peak in the summer months. Backyard parties, summer travel, thunderstorms, and fireworks can all make the world a little less predictable for our animal friends.

Help your pet to feel a little less anxious by:

• Keeping their routine as predictable as possible
• Not changing their diet
• Giving them a safe, quiet sanctuary to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed
• Using anti-anxiety supplements such as plug-in pheromones or over-the-counter solutions
• Trying an anxiety vest 
• Offering enriching activities like a puzzle toy to keep their mind focused
• Engaging in physical activities such as walks with them

Be aware of potential toxins like unattended food and drinks, lighter fluid, insecticides, glow jewelry, and even unattended bags or coats that may contain human medications, vapes, or inhalers can also pose holiday risks to pets.

It is also worthwhile to check your pet escape-proofing measures. Be sure window screens and fence gates are secure in case a scared pooch decides to make a run for it. It is also important to check that your pets are microchipped and their registration accurate. 

Comforting Pets During Fireworks

Many pets (mostly dogs, but some cats, too) have noise phobias that are tested tremendously during loud events like fireworks or storms. The good news is that when we know that they are going to happen, we have a better chance to comfort our pets.

For pets who have anxiety about loud noises:

• Move them to an interior room with no windows
• Play soft music or other white noise
• Allow them to spend time in a safe, comfortable place that they are used to
• Try a Thundershirt
• Try to not leave your pet alone during this time (you may need to arrange a pet sitter)
• If you must take them outside, be sure that they are on a secure leash and stay with them
• Contact us for information about anti-anxiety medications

Ideally we will want to try an anti-anxiety medication before a scary day to see how it affects your pet. Don’t give more than the recommended amount or share amongst pets without consulting our team first. 

The Fourth of July can be a very fun holiday, but if your pet doesn’t agree, that is okay. They don’t have to love it, they just need to stay safe, and these tips can help you keep them that way.

The same fall allergens that bring on the sneezing attacks and watery eyes in humans can also plague our pets, but don’t double up on the tissues just yet. Most seasonal allergies in pets manifest in the form of itchy, irritated skin. 

At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we treat allergy patients year round, and we’re here with helpful tips on allergy management for pets.

Summer is here, at last! Hot, sunny days mean trips to the water, long, lazy walks, and outside volleyball games. Your pets want to go where you go (except for cats who might want to stay put). Your pets need to stay hydrated so, should you bring your pets with you for summertime excursions?

Pet owners spend a great deal of time and money during the holiday season looking for and buying just the “right” present for their best friend. With our list of trending, uber-popular pet gifts, you can zero-in on just what you think your buddy will like, appreciate, and benefit from.

There’s a lot to love about summer, but a pet’s noise anxiety isn’t usually on the list of favorite things. Long stretches of beautiful, sunny days, time spent on the water, or going camping can quickly spiral into a frightening experience for a pet unaccustomed to thunderstorms or fireworks (both of which occur with some frequency between May and September). Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with some effective strategies to keep your pet’s noise anxiety at bay. 

The fun of the holidays goes down a few notches when we have to continually say “no!” to our pets. They can’t help wanting to taste whatever goodness we have heaped on our plates. Unfortunately, most of what we indulge in over the holidays is potentially dangerous for our pets to eat. Healthy pet snacks might seem like an impossibility this time of the year. However, these treats are not only available, they’re deliciously satisfying to hungry, curious pets.