AAHA Suggested Pet Gifts!

AAHA Suggests Pet Gifts

Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo is proud to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, and we're happy to pass on the annual AAHA list of suggested pet gifts.   We especially approve of Number One!

Special edition: AAHA's top 10 holiday pet picks 

With Santa’s reindeer gearing up for a sleighful of deliveries to pets and their people, pet owners are hitting the stores to do their own shopping for their furry friends. From stainless steel water fountains to Angry Birds toys, pet gifts this season will have pets (and humans) drooling and howling for more.
Here are some staff favorites from the team at AAHA that are sure to get tails wagging and paws pouncing this holiday season.

1. Time:

For the owner on a budget or for the pet who has everything, the gift of time is the top gift for any pet this year."  According to my cats, the best present I can give them is my time," a staff member says. "They would like nothing better than for me to spend hours petting them and brushing them and scratching them and just loving them."

2. Thundershirt:

The holidays can be a stressful time for anxiety or stress-prone dogs. A Thundershirt can help reduce anxiety by creating a snug, comfortable fit that comforts dogs when in stressful situations.

"Everyone is talking about how these can help dogs that exhibit behavioral issues when stressed," one staff member says. "They’re most often applied to calm thunderstorm fears but I hear of people using them in situations they know their dog finds stressful."  For a stressed pooch, a Thundershirt may be the perfect gift that can keep on giving all year round.

Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment Wrap


 







 
3. Through a Dog’s Ear (CD series):

This series uses music to help calm anxious dogs in stressful settings like shelters and hospitals. Instrumentation on each album is carefully chosen to relax dogs by gradually slowing their heart rates. Many of the albums have been tested for effectiveness on dogs in shelters, clinics and homes.  Through a Dog’s Ear

　　

For Fun Loving Pets!

4. Hartz Angry Birds cat toys: Don’t forget that cats love Angry Birds, too! The Angry Birds Running Bird toy stimulates your cat’s predatory instinct by shaking and vibrating its catnip innards, driving cats crazy and tempting their paws to pounce.
Angry Bird Cat Toy
 
　

 

 

 

 

 

5. Hartz Angry Birds dog toys:

Angry Birds = happy dogs. Based on the popular mobile game app that pits birds against greedy green pigs, the double-sided Angry Birds flyer will have your dog chasing it down just so that he can get his teeth on this toy’s ballistic nylon.

Angry Bird Dog Toy

6. Homemade dog treats:

If purchasing special goodies from bakeries isn’t your thing, make your own doggie treats.

"You can always make dog biscuits with cookie cut-outs," one staff member says. "I recently made a disgusting liver bar recipe. I liquefied chicken livers in a food processor, added corn meal and flour, and then baked them. After, I cut them up into bars. It was gross to make and smell while they were baking but my dogs LOVED them."
Other recipes include mixing baby food, corn meal and dry milk. Peanut butter is always a good add-in, staff says.

7. Baked doggie goods from local doggie bakeries:

Fancy doggie goodies from specialized bakeries can whet your pet’s palate in a way that everyday treats can’t quite do.

"Christmas and his birthday are the only times my dog gets to indulge with these!" says one AAHA staff member.



For the sophisticated pet

8. Stainless steel water fountains:

Upgrading to a stainless steel water fountain this year may be a popular choice for pet lovers who want to add some class to their pets’ drinking style.

"I think crowds will love it this season since stainless steel is so fashionable in many kitchens and it is easy to clean," one staff member says.

Drinkwell 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain

9. Travel carrier:

Take your pet to grandmother’s house in comfort and security this holiday season. Travel carriers help to contain your pet while riding in the car, making it a safer and more comfortable drive for both you and your pet.

 For the safety-conscious pet

10. Car seat harness:

There is no better gift than taking your pet with you when you travel - provided that your pet can travel securely! Buying a car seat harness will ensure that your pet receives the same level of safety that you do when you travel.