Dr. Maro: Gift ideas for pets and their owners — and none of them treats!
Pets mean the world to their guardians.
Most pet owners purchase Christmas gifts for their own pets, while many friends and relatives also recognize others’ pets with gifts on the biggest gift-giving holiday in the U.S.
Before I detail my opinions on great gifts for dogs and cats, I will highlight the reasons I discourage people from purchasing treats for other people’s pets as a special holiday treat or surprise.
Many pets are on special diets, so unknown treats can trigger gastroenteritis, pancreatitis or diarrhea. Unless you know the actual ingredients are not allergens for a particular pet, look toward non-food gifts this holiday season.
Many owners choose not to support certain pet food and treat makers, due to their ethics, sustainability practices, sourcing, packaging, ingredients and a myriad of other reasons. Unless you know which treats and foods the pet parent feeds, you may be throwing your money away. The owner will likely smile when they accept your gift, but lots of gifted treats bypass the pet and go straight to the trash or shelter donation bin.
When my own dog was on a special diet due to a medical condition, I never shared with friends and relatives that their well-intentioned gifts of treats were never going to be eaten by my dog (these folks were not very close; the close friends and relatives knew not to buy treats). Instead, I passed them onto staff members for their own pets after the holidays.
So what gifts will say, “I recognize how important your pet(s) are to you and your family"?
The following will be more appreciated:
Offer your time as a pet sitter/dog walker/kitty petter for times when the owner will be working late. If the owner uses a doggie daycare, let them know you can be their back-up call for pick up on days they are running late at work. (Just like children's’ daycare facilities, pet daycares have strict pick-up times, which can be financially and emotionally worrisome for owners).
Gift certificates for special grooming or spa services, a pet daycare or boarding facility the owner uses, the veterinarian the owner sees regularly, or spa, rehab or massage therapy for the pet, which is especially appreciated for aging, or previously injured pets.
When it comes to veterinary care, many owners delay services due to cost, so gift certificates can help defray the cost of a dental cleaning or be put onto the account for future use.
Enrichment and interactive toys that help keep pets active and mentally engaged when owners are not home. Some are operated through an app on the owner’s phone, which can allow the owner to see and engage with the pet.
Pet GPS or other tech devices to track pets’ activities and vital signs. The newer and more sophisticated devices help owners know if their pet is becoming lethargic or anxious while owners are gone, alerting them to possible developing medical problems.
A great gift idea for cat owners is purchasing Diagnostic Cat Litter, which aids in detecting urine pH changes and presence of blood or glucose (think diabetes). It's a medically helpful gift that feline pet parents may not even be aware of. These types of litter aren’t intended for daily use, but are used, instead, when there's a suspected problem with cystitis, bladder stones, diabetes or infection to help owners know when they should make a vet visit.
Licking mats and specially designed feeders and activity mats are great options for both dogs and cats.
Doggie coats, jackets, seasonal leashes and collars, harness/tactical harnesses and boots for winter are appreciated by dog owners.
Calming devices, like the “doggie shusher," plug in pheromone devices and other anti-anxiety tech toys are great ideas for working pet parents.
Chew toys, like those the owner can fill with food, snacks or treats of their choice, which are size-appropriate, are good gifts for dogs.
When in doubt, ask your friends and relatives what they love to do with their pets, and what they would like as a special gift for their companions.
Whatever gifts you decide to give, remember, the gift wrapping is for the humans. Pets won’t care how you wrap and they don’t judge (OK, cats might be a little “judgy”).
Dr. Cynthia Maro is a veterinarian at the Ellwood Animal Hospital in Ellwood City and the Chippewa Animal Hospital in Chippewa Township. She writes a biweekly column on pet care and health issues. If you have a topic you’d like to have addressed, email ellwoodvet@msn.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Dr. Maro: Gift ideas for pets and their owners — and none of them treats!
