You may have heard of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Around this time of year, our clinic expects three similar visitors who remind us to see the holiday season through the perspective of others. However, unlike the characters from the classic story A Christmas Carol our visitors come with four legs and a tail!

Lola, the Lab of Christmas Snacks

For Lola, December is filled with eye-level hors d’oeuvres, top-of-the-trash turkey bones, and friends who sneak her table scraps. She can’t resist a holiday treat, so we usually see Lola in our clinic because of an upset tummy or foreign body removal. Lola likes food, but she hates getting sick. This year, she hopes her family stores toxic holiday items like chocolate, raisins, holly, and mistletoe where she’s not tempted to snack.

Dodger, the Dog of Christmas Stress

Dodger loves company, but during social events he paces and pants. He doesn’t know why the doorbell won’t stop ringing or why Aunt Tanya stole his favourite chair. His tummy hurts from the anxiety, plus he missed his walk today, and sometimes that energy comes out as aggression. This year, he wishes his owners would change his schedule gradually before the holidays and give him lots of exercise so he can enjoy being with his visitors.

Cathy, the Cat of Christmas Sass

Cathy is less Jingle Bell Rock and more of a Silent Night kind of girl. When guests come over, her little cousins pull her tail and she can never find a place to hide. This makes her angry enough to become violent or even pee outside of the litter box! It’s embarrassing, but it’s how she signals that she needs help, and that’s usually why Cathy finds herself in our clinic. Try putting her litter box, food, water, and bed in a quiet place to proactively stop inappropriate urination and to help her relax by knowing she’s safe.

You may have a Lola, Cathy, or Dodger at home. These friends understand that no one means to be a Scrooge, but they’re hoping we’ll pause to consider their perspective during our seasonal festivities. By taking the time to extend kindness and joy to our furry family members, we can all truly have happy holidays!

Dr. I. Wonder is here to answer your questions regarding your furry family members. If you have a question, email it to us at danielle@NeighbourhoodPetClinic.com.  Our team at Neighbourhood Pet Clinic will tap into their collective experience to answer your various questions.