How to Choose a Safe Gift for a Dog or Cat
Toys
- Size matters: a toy should be too big to swallow. Balls should be larger than your dog's throat.
- Avoid toys with loose eyes, bells or strings for unsupervised play.
- Hard chews that do not bend at all can fracture teeth. A common rule is: if you cannot dent it with a fingernail, it may be too hard.
- Wand toys and laser pointers are great for cats, but put wand toys away afterwards.
Treats
Introduce new treats slowly to avoid an upset stomach. Check ingredients for xylitol, raisins or chocolate in "human" treats.
Gift ideas that help long-term
Puzzle feeders, a comfortable orthopaedic bed for older pets, a new ID tag, or a cat scratching post or window perch.