Evervet's Christmas List for Pets

For many of us the upcoming Holiday period is a chance to stop, refresh and spend important time with family, friends and not least of all, our pets.

Read on for our helpful holiday checklist, and ensure you and your family are ready for the festivities.

Is Everything Up to Date?

Has it been a while since your pet’s last vet visit? Remember that our pets age faster than we do, so if it’s been a year or more since your pet’s last health check that’s the equivalent of several years in human terms.

Are your pet’s vaccinations current? Most pets need annual vaccination for various infectious diseases - it’s particularly important these are up-to-date if your pet will be travelling, boarding with other animals or even just socialising more over the summer.

Now is a great time to schedule a pre-holiday consult with our friendly vets, to ensure your pet is in good health and ready for whatever you’ve got planned.

Don’t Forget to Refill!

If your pet takes regular medication it is vital for their well-being that you stock up before the holiday season or hitting the road. Many of our suppliers and pharmacies will operate on a limited basis over the holiday period so it’s important to be organised.

Once requested the majority of pet medications will be made ready within 48 hours, however if your pet takes specialised or compounded medication this could be over a week, so please ensure you leave plenty of time.

Your pet will need to have been checked by our vets within the preceding six months if requesting prescription medication - why not conveniently book online?

Does your Pet Travel in Style?

Many of us travel with our pets over the holidays, potentially placing them in unfamiliar surrounds. When was the last time you updated their contact details?

Booking in with our staff to check your pet’s microchip - making sure it’s reading and that your details are correct - can provide peace of mind before you embark on your next adventure together.

What would you do in the event of a veterinary emergency whilst away from home? It’s worth doing some online research or asking us for a recommendation, before heading somewhere unfamiliar with your family.

If you’re travelling to coastal NSW or Queensland this summer your pet will need protection against paralysis ticks if you want to avoid a life-threatening situation. Talk to us for a reliable tick-preventive recommendation.

Ensure you’ve packed all their essentials, including enough food, medications, favourite toys, and bedding.

Avoid Tinsel-itis!

Decorating your home at this time of year can be a lot of fun, but it’s worth taking some time to ensure any enhancements won’t land you in an animal emergency!

Elevating tinsel, ornaments and electric lights out of reach is important as many pets like to investigate changes in their environment, often chewing things that shouldn’t be.

If you’ve installed a Christmas tree make sure that it’s securely anchored, and avoid using tree water additives that could be harmful if ingested.

Don’t Give More Than You’ve Bargained On

There are endless great gift ideas to safely fill your pet’s stocking this year - why not check out the range in one of our clinics?

However, there are a few things that flow abundantly during the silly season that you will want to leave off your pet’s list - for more information on foods to avoid, check out this helpful summary.

Avoid letting your pet indulge on leftovers or unfamiliar foods that regularly lead to digestive issues… no one wants to wake up to gastro on Boxing Day!

If Only All Guests Stayed as Long as Santa…

Whilst the idea of a midnight home invasion could potentially scare an unsuspecting pet, thankfully the big guy is well known for his natural affinity with animals (helped by his tendency to leave a trail of yummy crumbs) and his tendency to leave again quickly.

…Not all visitors are so well received by our pets though!

For those pets that are not used to sharing their home with guests or large events it’s worth considering providing them a quiet and comfortable safe space to retreat to. This is particularly the case for older or anxious pets - in particular cats - who can experience a range of behavioural and medical problems (such as lower urinary tract disease) when subjected to sudden changes in their environment.

Evervet is Here to Help

We understand that even with the best preparation things don’t always go to plan.

That’s why we make ourselves available to pet families, throughout the holiday period. Our Prahran location is even open on Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Days.

At Evervet we’re committed to being here for you, your pet and your family, always.