Posts in Category: Harmony Animal Hospital News & Events

Planning a festive get-together this holiday season? Make sure it’s fun and safe for your furry family members! Our house dog, Molly, shares her favorite tips for hosting a pet-friendly holiday party — from safe decorations and treats to helping pets stay calm when guests arrive.

by Molly, Chief Happiness Officer at Harmony Animal Hospital

The holidays are my favorite time of year — so many friends, treats, and sparkly things! But as much as I love the festivities, my fellow pets and I can get a little overwhelmed (and occasionally into mischief). Here’s how to make sure your Christmas or holiday party is merry, bright, and pet-safe.

Deck the Halls — Carefully

Tinsel may look magical, but it’s a magnet for curious cats (and dangerous if swallowed). Skip it — or keep it high and out of reach. The same goes for ornaments, lights, and candles. I once wagged my tail into a candle… once.
If you love holiday greenery, choose pet-safe options — skip mistletoe, poinsettias, and holly, which can be toxic to dogs and cats.

Mind the Menu

Party food smells amazing, but not everything is meant for paws and whiskers. Keep guests from sneaking table scraps by setting out a few Harmony-approved snacks for furry friends:

• Baby carrots or green beans for dogs
• Catnip treats or tuna flakes for cats
• A frozen Kong with peanut butter (xylitol-free!) keeps dogs happy and busy

Avoid chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, bones, and alcohol — all on the naughty list for pets.

Create a “Chill Zone”

All the noise and excitement can be stressful. Before guests arrive, set up a quiet room with comfy bedding, water, and soft music for pets who’d rather snooze than socialize. Even the friendliest pups sometimes need a break from the action (and the ugly sweaters).

Greet Guests Gracefully

Ask friends to watch doors and gates as they come and go — even well-trained pets can bolt when things get busy. A “Please don’t let me dash out!” sign by the door can help.
If your pet is nervous around crowds, let them meet new people slowly or keep them safely tucked away.

Give the Gift of Safety

If you exchange gifts for pets, skip ribbons and bows that can be swallowed. Opt for durable toys, chew-safe bones, or cozy blankets instead.
Bonus idea: Donate a toy or treat to a local rescue in your pet’s name. That’s my favorite kind of holiday spirit.

End Your Pet-Friendly Holiday Party with Cuddles

When the last guest leaves and the floor is glitter-free again, take a few minutes to snuggle your pets and thank them for being the best companions all year long. (Maybe share a leftover bite of turkey if it’s safe.)

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From all of us at Harmony Animal Hospital — wishing you, your family, and your furry loved ones a joyful, safe, and tail-wagging holiday season!

Molly 🐾
Chief Happiness Officer

As Florida experiences a heat wave with temperatures soaring into the 90s, it’s crucial for pet parents to take extra precautions to ensure their companion animals remain safe. Here are some essential safety measures to help you protect them:

Ensure your companion animals have constant access to fresh, cool water. Hydration is key to helping them regulate their body temperature. Consider placing multiple water bowls around the house and yard, and refill them frequently.

Walk your companion animals early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. The asphalt and pavement can become extremely hot during the day, potentially burning your pet’s paws. Always check the ground temperature with your hand before setting out.

Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can rise to dangerous levels within minutes. Leaving companion animals in a parked car, even for a short period, can lead to heatstroke or even death.

Ensure your companion animals have a cool place to rest indoors. Use fans or air conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. If your pet is outside, provide shaded areas and consider using cooling mats or damp towels for them to lie on.

Heatstroke is a serious condition that can affect companion animals quickly. Symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, and uncoordinated movements. If you suspect your companion animal is suffering from heatstroke, move them to a cool area, offer water, and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Regular grooming helps to keep your companion animal’s coat free of mats, which can trap heat. However, avoid shaving your pet’s fur down to the skin, as their coat also provides protection from the sun.

By following these tips, you can help ensure your pets remain safe and comfortable during the extreme heat. Remember, your vigilance can make all the difference in preventing heat-related illnesses and ensuring your pets enjoy a healthy, happy summer. Stay cool, Florida!

Pets’ attitudes toward arriving at veterinary, grooming, and boarding facilities vary widely. Some dogs dance through the front door, eagerly searching for snacks, while others appear so worried that we need to carry them inside. Cats, typically stressed, often attempt to hide, and small mammals and birds may show varying levels of interest or agitation. Every pet is an individual, just like us.

It’s especially endearing when dogs attempt to “check out” another dog, but it can be overwhelming for the other pet. Even when two dogs clearly want to play, another nearby pet might be disturbed by the extra activity. Cats hearing strange dogs playing nearby, even if they live with dogs of their own, often become very upset.

Considering this, it’s best to keep your animal close and not allow or encourage interactions with other pets. You never know if a pet is waiting for a routine wellness visit or is here due to illness or pain. The lobby can create significant stimuli and “big feelings” for nearly all patients. Treating the lobby as you would any other waiting room in a medical facility is the best approach, acknowledging the unique minds of our animal companions.

We want clients to know that if they’re ever concerned about their pet’s fear, stress, or anxiety while waiting, they can ask to wait in an exam room if available or wait in their vehicle. Being out of the lobby’s “traffic” provides relief for some pets. There’s zero judgment, and don’t forget, we have pets too!

If staff ever requests you to move with your pet to a specific area or wait outside, please do not take offense or feel embarrassed. The staff is highly trained to observe signs of stress in animals, and they have a broader view of the lobby to ensure all puzzle pieces fit just right.

Whether your pet is a social butterfly when here or would rather be anywhere else, it doesn’t change how we feel about them; we just want them all happy and well.