When choosing a best man, maid of honor and ring bearer many couples are deciding the family pooch is the right dog for the job. Like most of us, they consider their pets to be a part of the family, so it’s only right their dog is included in the wedding festivities. Even celebrities like True Blood’s Anna Paquin, singer Gwen Stefani and actor Adam Sandler have included pets in their weddings. Including your dog in the wedding can help to make the day extra special, but here are some tips for ensuring the day goes perfectly.

Make sure your ceremony and reception venue are pet-friendly and notify everyone involved that you will be including pets in your nuptials. Also, ask where the best place for puppy potty breaks is and pack pick up bags for the day of.

If your dog is going to be wearing something special for the wedding, get them comfortable by dressing them up and taking a couple of test runs around the neighborhood before the big day. Be sure to reward your pooch for good behavior.

Assign a trusted friend or relative who is not in the wedding party to take care of the dog on the day of the wedding. This guarantees the dog’s needs are taken care of and allow the bride and groom the freedom to truly enjoy their walk down the aisle, first dance and cake cutting without worrying about their dog.

Talk to the photographer in advance about getting photos that include the family dog and make sure they are comfortable with animals. Don’t be surprised if your four legged friend ends up stealing the spotlight!

Bring treats, toys, food and a water dish so that your pet won’t go hungry or get dehydrated during the wedding or reception. Scope out the area for shade before hand so your pup isn’t stuck standing in the sun for hours. Additionally, don’t force your dog into hot and heavy clothing if it’s going to be warm out. Instead, consider a fancy collar, ribbon or hat.

Keep in mind not all dogs will enjoy being a part of the wedding. Consider whether your dog will be comfortable in large crowds with a lot of noise and distractions. Does your dog have a bad habit like barking or jumping up on people? Perhaps they shouldn’t participate in the wedding, instead set up a time with the photographer to take pictures when there is less chaos.

What do you think? Would you consider including your pet in your wedding?

Who doesn’t love lush green lawns and gardens? With the weather warming up, this is the time to get outside and start the landscaping and gardening. But unfortunately, the same products that produce healthy lawns and vibrant gardens can sometimes cause health problems for pets. In fact, ASPCA listed garden products and rodenticides in their Top 10 Pet Poisons.

A stroll down the lawn and garden section of your local nursery presents an abundance of beautiful flowers and greenery to enhance your outdoor world, but it also reveals many potential pet hazards. As a pet owner, you have to use caution in using and storing these products. Limiting your pet’s access to them can help ensure both a beautiful lawn and a healthy pet.

Before applying lawn treatments, make sure to remove your pet’s water and food dishes from the yard. Always keep your pet inside while chemicals are being applied and keep them off the lawn or out of the garden at least 24 hours after an application.

Here are some things to watch out for:

Fertilizers

Last year, the ASPCA fielded 2,329 called related to fertilizer exposure, which can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

Rodenticides

According to the ASPCA, “Last year, the ASPCA received 6,639 calls about pets who had accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including bleeding, seizures or kidney damage.”

Insecticides

Chemical pesticides are applied as tree sprays, garden dusts, foggers, and in a variety of fruit and vegetable sprays. Keep pets away from the area under and around freshly sprayed trees for at least 24 hours.

Herbicides

Used to reduce weed growth, most of them are only significantly toxic if ingested from the bag. Since dogs can obviously chew through the bag or box it’s in, make sure to place it in a location that your pet can’t get to.

If you think your pet may have ingested a chemical poison, you must act fast. Call your veterinarian or local poison control center immediately. You can also call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can order a free Animal Poison Control Center magnet with their emergency phone numbers and website address on it by clicking here.

For all of you with furry family members, this is the week for you! It’s National Pet Week, a great reminder of how pets enhance our lives.

Presented by the Veterinary Medical Association, the week is dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership, celebrating the bond between our beloved pets and us, and promoting the public awareness of veterinary medicine.

What better time to do something special for your pet – a new chew toy or special treat perhaps? And of course, adopting a pet in need of a home is a great too!

Let’s celebrate National Pet Week together by sharing photos of your pet on our Facebook page! Just post them to our wall and show us all how awesome your pet is! Can’t wait to see them!