- Happy Retirement Rita
- Holiday Gift to Heifer International
- Thinking About a New Pet This Christmas?
- Introducing a New Pet into Your Household
- Holiday Hazards

Happy Retirement Rita
The staff of East Hilliard Veterinary Services would like to wish long-time employee, Rita Miller, the very best in her retirement.  Rita worked with Drs. Tom and Sue for many years.  She says she will not just be sitting around though, grandchildren and antiquing will keep her busy.  We miss you Rita.

Holiday Gift to Heifer International
In lieu of Christmas gifts to each other this year the staff at East Hilliard Veterinary Services have decided to pool that money and make a donation to Heifer International.  We have a donation box in our reception area if you would like to join us.  For more information on Heifer International, go to www.heifer.org.

Acquiring a New Pet for Christmas?
We’d like to offer a few guidelines regarding acquiring a new pet for a Christmas gift.  If you’re not 100% sure the person receiving the gift really wants it, do not give a pet for a gift.  Pets are not throw-away gifts.  They require a life-long commitment (of time and money) that many people are not able to give.  If you are sure that a pet is the right gift, spend some time researching the species you will choose, along with the breed, sex, and age.  Would a cat or a dog be a better choice?  Does the new owner have the time and ability to properly train a young dog or would the better choice be an adult dog which has already had basic training?  Or perhaps a “pocket pet” or even some fish would be a better fit?  If you’ve chosen a dog or cat, research the breeds you are considering.  They all have specific characteristics and needs that should be considered before you make your purchase.  If you decide on a purebred dog or cat, look into breed rescue organizations.  If you buy from a pet store please be sure the puppy or kitten is not from a “puppy” mill.  These facilities have no regard for their animals.  They are into breeding simply for the money.  If you buy a dog from a reputable breeder they will help you decide if this breed is the right dog for the situation it will be going into.  We highly recommend adopting from an animal shelter, humane society, rescue organization, or breed specific rescue group.  There is a great website called Petfinder.com through which many people have found a life-long companion.

Introducing a New Cat into an Established Cat Household
First, be sure your new pet is healthy before you take it into your home.  You don’t want to expose your existing cats to disease or parasites.
Second, you know your cat better than anyone so take your time and consider carefully all factors involved before deciding to bring a new cat into the household.  A new cat in the house can upset a fragile balance that you may not have even recognized existed.  Behavioral problems can result – sometimes major behavioral problems. 
A new cat or kitten should never simply be brought into your home and put in the same room with your existing cat(s).  A fight will most likely occur because cats tend to not readily accept strangers into their social group.  In a multi-cat household with a stable social organization, a new cat or kitten can even trigger conflict between cats that previously got along well together.  Gradually introduce the new cat.  It is best to put the new cat in a room with its own food, water, toys, litter pan, and sleeping area.  The resident cat(s) will hear and smell the stranger through the closed door.  The locations of the new cat and the resident cat(s) should be switched periodically allowing them to become more familiar with each other’s scent. Another thing that can be helpful is to gently rub the new cat on the neck, and under the chin with a soft cloth to get its scent.  Then you can leave the cloth laying around where the existing cat(s) can get accustomed to the scent.  Do the same to the existing cat(s) and put that cloth(s) in the new cat’s room.  Exchanging bedding can also be helpful.
If interior glass or screened doors are available, the cats should be positioned so that a glass or screen door rather than a solid door is between them.  If that is not an option, try these alternatives.  Most cats can easily leap a baby gate but double stacked gates should keep the cats separated.  Blocking a solid door so that it can only open one to two inches would allow safe interaction between the cats also.
After the initial separation period, place the new cat in a carrier and take it into the existing cat’s territory.  Monitor their interactions but don’t try to physically pull a cat away if problems occur.  Many people are injured by redirected cat aggression.  Allow just a few minutes interaction unless they seem totally relaxed by each other’s company.  Later, switch cats, placing the existing cat in the carrier and allowing the new cat into the area.  Do this multiple times before you go on to the next step.    A work of caution: If any of the cats are stressed by confinement in a carrier, it could make the situation worse as they will relate the new cat to the stress of being in the carrier.
If more controlled interaction is needed, harnesses and leashes can be useful.  As with crates, it is helpful if the cats are accustomed to harnesses.  This allows the cats to be in the same room but separate and under control.  Depending on how they react to each other you can, over several sessions, gradually bring them closer to each other.  The humans involved should not force the cats together and should only reward good behavior.  Do not punish hissing or growling.  Any sign of aggression should just signal the end of the session.  Remember that cats can redirect their feelings of aggression to humans.  Severe bite or scratch wounds have resulted from people trying to reassure or separate cats that are stressed by any situation.  Be very cautious in this stage of introduction.  Once the cats are tolerating each other, allow them to be together and to establish their own place in your household.   
Remember to add another litter box to your household each time you add a cat.  The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box.  (And don’t line them all up along one wall in the basement.)

Introducing a New Dog or Puppy into an Established Dog Household
An examination by your veterinarian is recommended before you take your new dog home.  You could expose your existing dog(s) to disease or parasites if you don’t.  As is true with cats, it isn’t recommended that a new dog or puppy be directly introduced to an existing dog in the existing dog’s territory.  You need to do a little groundwork.  In a neutral area, let the dogs get to know each other on-leash.  Let them sniff each other and get comfortable.  Continue to keep the dogs leashed as you introduce the new dog to its surroundings.  The existing dog’s food bowls and toys should be out of bounds for the new dog.  At feeding time, feed them separately, and after 15 minutes, take up the bowls even if they are empty.  A second water bowl in a separate location is also a good idea starting out as the existing dog will often guard the feeding area.
The existing dog will probably establish the rules right from the beginning.  Even young dogs can understand the body language of another dog.  They will work out their status with each other.   However, until you are totally comfortable with how well they will get along, don’t allow them together unleashed or unsupervised.  “Correcting” the established dog when they growl or snarl at the new dog may cause more problems as the established dog will begin to associate the presence of the new dog with some form of punishment from you.

Introducing a new dog or cat should be fun for all involved and it can be if you take some extra time before and after your purchase.

Holiday Hazards from the Desk of Einstein
Just a quick reminder.  Very few Christmases have passed without the doctors here having to treat at least one pet injured or made ill by holiday treats or decorations.

- Anything hanging on the Christmas tree is fair game in the eyes of your pets.  Think about what you hang at their level and don’t use metal hooks to hang low ornaments. 
- Tinsel and ribbons can be life-threatening if ingested. 
- Cord chewing can shock a pet and could even start a fire. 
- A tree is a tree is a tree to a cat.  Tree climbing is what cats do.  Anchor your tree to a wall so a climbing cat won’t bring it down. 
- If you have a fresh cut tree, don’t add chemicals to the water.  Dogs and cats can drink from the reservoir.  Keep the water fresh (bacteria can grow in stagnant water) and if your pets do drink from the reservoir be sure to check the level more than once a day since the only way to keep your tree fresh is to keep the water reservoir full. 
- Many holiday treats have their own special threat.  Avoid allowing your pets to eat anything other than their regular food.  That way you won’t need to worry whether it is safe or not.
- Some holiday plants can make your pet ill.  These include: holly, mistletoe, lilies, and poinsettias.  Be cautious where you place these plants, or opt for safe, plastic reproductions.

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