Pets are considered a part of the family and for this reason, deserve a little Christmas cheer from Santa too! Stuff their stockings with these fun gifts this holiday season:

For cat owners, practical items including decorative collars, leashes, harnesses, brushes or even a cat house are a great idea. Also, as the weather begins to cool, the Simple Solution™ Thermal Cat Cushion is a great This self-warming cushion utilizes a space-age material with a reflective surface that reflects the pet’s own body heat back to the animal. The plush fur pad cover is reversible and self-heating on both sides. The reflective thermal qualities of this pet bed make it soothing for kittens, aging adult cats, nurturing females as well as cats recovering from illness, injury or bone and joint disease.

For dog owners, brushes, dog treats, rawhide chews and toys make great stocking stuffers. Pet toys are always a great gift because they offer your pet mental stimulation and allow them to get some exercise. Pet toys can also be comforting and help relieve your pet’s stress if they are feeling worried or a little anxious. There are pet toys for the holidays in red and green colors or in Christmas shapes that would make the perfect gift for your pet. In addition to holiday toys, presents for the style-conscious dog such as rhinestone collars and leashes, dog clothes and luxurious dog beds are great items. The Simple Solution™ Thermal Simple Sleep Right™ Thermal Dog Cushion is a luxurious item with a plush self heating fur pad cover that your pet will love.

In addition to these fun stocking stuffers, treat your pet to a nice warm bath for the holidays. With winter storms rolling in, your pet will appreciate a nice scrub down after a long day of playing in the snow. You can treat your pet to a soothing soak in the tub with a variety of Simple Solution® Bathing Shampoos. These great products provide extra conditioning during bathing or for quick touch-ups in-between bathing. You can use Simple Solution® Bathing Wipes on both wet and dry coats. It is rinse free, easy to use and will keep your pet’s coat clean and fluffy for the holidays!

Preparing for the Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping, baking, and decorating and as we put forth great effort to bake the perfect meals, prepare the house for company, and wrap presents, we must remember to be attentive to household hazards that could affect our pets.

Cooking Tips

While baking Christmas cookies, keep in mind the dough can expand in a pets’ stomach and could potentially cause problems if swallowed. Same goes for chocolate, coffee, and tea which are all very toxic for dogs and although bones seem like a great idea during holiday cooking, feeding them to your dog can really hurt their digestive system. Instead of feeding your pet left over holiday meals, there are a variety of recipes developed specifically for pets that would better suit them.

Christmas Tree and Decoration Safety

Christmas trees should be secured to prevent toppling and do not allow your dog to eat fallen pine needles or even artificial tree needles as they can be toxic or cause stomach irritation.

Also, you may not know it, but Christmas tree water can contain poisonous pine tar or tree preservatives that could hurt your pet, make sure this is not easily accessible.

Most pets think ornaments are toys and want to play with them, but if they swallow a piece of the ornament, you could be spending Christmas at the veterinary hospital. So place ornaments higher up on the tree and out of your pets reach to ensure this does not happen.

Although there are risks to look out for, the holiday season is a wonderful time to relax and celebrate with pets. As long as you keep these hazards in mind, the season will carry on smoothly!

Although winter days may be shorter and colder, this shouldn’t prevent you and your dog from enjoying the outdoors. There are several popular wintertime options that also serve as dog-friendly activities.

For most of us, winter is all about snow. While you spend time outdoors building a snowman or sledding with the family, don’t forget to invite your furry pal to come along and chase snowballs down the hill or fetch sticks and pine cones. If your dog loves to play fetch, take him snow diving and throw a ball in the fluffy snow for retrieval or take him for a sleigh ride – if your little ball of fur is used to being transported in a carrier, firmly attach the carrier to a sled and take your dog for ride!

If you enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, share your next winter trek with your pet. Research local areas that allow dogs on groomed trails and make sure your dog is under voice control or on a leash at all times. When there is snow on the ground, a dog may not be able to find the familiar scents and may become disoriented or lost if not kept track of or on a leash.

If you decide to take your pet on an outdoor excursion, remember that winters are bitter cold, snowy and wet and pets are not much different from humans when it comes to handling cold weather. Don’t leave dogs outdoors for too long, no matter the temperature, wind-chill can threaten a pet’s health. Under such adverse conditions a number of additional considerations should be made. Unless precaution is taken, ice, salt, and sand can lead to paw abrasions and dogs with joint problems such as arthritis, especially older dogs, may be severely impacted by the cold. As long as you keep these safety measures in mind, you will have a wonderful time with your pet.

So zip up the coat, pull on those boots, grab the leash and consider these popular things your dog and the whole family can get involved in together outdoors this winter!