Posts in Category: Pet Toxins

What could be more enticing to a curious cat or a playful puppy than a freshly sown vegetable garden or flower bed? Pets love to romp, dig, and sample the greenery around them, so if you’re a gardener with pets, it’s important to keep your outdoor spaces pet friendly.

Try these tips from our caring team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital to create a backyard pet paradise where your cat or dog can freely and safely explore.

When it comes to preventing pet accidents, nothing is foolproof, but with a few proactive pet safety tips, you can create a loving home that protects your furry friends from common household hazards.  

To help you get started, our team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital has put together this handy room-by-room guide for preventing pet accidents at home.

When pet upset stomach problems strike, it can be unpleasant to say the least. While the outcomes of vomiting, diarrhea, and not eating may be the same, though, there are many potential causes of pet gastrointestinal problems. Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to help you understand what those are, what to do, and when to worry. 

At some point in time, almost all pets eat something other than their designated food. Whether it is scraps from your dinner, a tempting treat left out accidentally in the path of a curious critter, an innocent treat from your grandma, or a trash can raid, pets eat things that they shouldn’t. 

Knowing what potential problems your pet might encounter in your home can make you a better pet parent. One common danger that can lurk in the average home is xylitol. Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital wants all of our readers to be aware of xylitol poisoning in pets and how to best prevent it.

Regardless of how long you’ve shared your space with a four-legged companion, you are probably well aware of their propensity to sniff out food wherever it may be.

The contents of a backpack, purse, lunchbox, craft supplies, or even e-learning supplies at home can be particularly tantalizing, and with school back in session, the opportunities for scrounging are nearly endless.

Unfortunately, these seemingly harmless items can actually pose a significant risk to our pets in the form of toxins such as certain foods, medication, and even chewing gum.

If there is one thing on which we can all agree, it’s that no pet owner ever wants to utter the words “pet” and “emergency” in the same sentence. Sometimes, though, our furry friends become sick or injured in a critical way, making the need for emergency pet care inevitable. 

As your pet’s advocate, it is important for you to be able to recognize the signs of a pet emergency, how to help a pet in distress, and to discern when veterinary care can wait for a scheduled appointment. You might be asking yourself, “what should I do if my pet has an emergency,” and the team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to help.

We are fast approaching spring, one of New Jersey’s finest seasons. Squeezed in between winter’s frigid ice storms and summer’s breeze-less humidity, spring is the perfect time to enjoy our state’s natural beauty. 

Most pet owners know about the dangers associated with Easter lilies, but there are so many more plants that are poisonous to pets. Don’t worry: we’ve got your bases covered.

Offering your dog or cat a delicious treat is one of the highlights of pet ownership. While it’s important not to over-indulge our pets (extra weight can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, joint pain, and more), treats are important for training and overall enjoyment of life.

Commercial pet treats can leave much to be desired, unfortunately. Many are loaded with fillers, food colorings, preservatives, and probably too many calories. Creating your own homemade pet treats is an easy (and cheap!) way to show your pets how much you care.

If we left it to our hungry hounds, dogs would assume most, if not all of our foods are meant for them. This is why thousands of pets are poisoned each year due to ingestion of a toxic food item, like chocolate. 

Of course there are plenty of human foods that are safe for dogs, and fun to give them in small amounts. Peanut butter is an option that most Fidos love, but you don’t have to stop there! The team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to explain what nuts and butters you can safely give your dog and what to avoid.

There are many fabulous things about the summer – popsicles, the pool, and fireworks are just a few that come to mind. With the warmer temperatures, though, come some downsides, as well. 

At Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital the creepy crawly things of summer top our list. From ants and mosquitoes, to fleas to hornet nests, pest numbers increase with the sunshine. 

While the urge to eradicate these things is real, it is important to remember that our dogs and cats share an environment with them and that killing some bugs can harm pets, too. 

Thankfully, pet safe pesticides and control options do exist.