Happy Birthday

My dog Ditto just turned one (on August 25th, if anyone is keeping track). I didn't throw him a party or anything, but his birthday was definitely on my mind. In honor of the occasion, though, here are some thoughts about pet birthdays.

• Mmm, birthday treats. You've probably heard that chocolate is toxic to dogs. While a couple of chocolate chips aren't a problem, large amounts really can be harmful to your dog (which isn't as complicated as you might think. I've heard Dr. Gold point out that if you ate a quarter of your body weight of chocolate, you'd probably get sick, too). The Pet Library linked to the Forest Hills Pet Care home page has some great articles on toxicity in pets that are worth checking out.
• Chocolate Toxicity by Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, DipABVP 
• Signs of Chocolate Toxicity by Tony Johnson DVM, DACVECC
• People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets by the ASPCA Poison Control Center

• If you do decide to try a pet-friendly recipe for some special birthday treats, you may still want to give them to Fido in moderation. Even when you use pet-friendly ingredients, sudden changes in your pet's diet can result in some gastric distress (read: diarrhea). 

• Petco has a special birthday club for your pets. And don't worry if you don't know the exact day. The date of adoption or just a good guess also works.

• When you come in to Forrest Hills Pet Care, you'll also be asked for the date of birth of your pet. Once again, if you don't know, your best guess is just fine. The veterinarian can also help you approximate your pet's age. Just like for people, knowing your pet's age helps match the care to their needs.

• Do you honor your pet's birthday? Feel free to share in the comments!

--Carrie