06/17/2025
Powder Ridge Post, June 2025
The Week of June 16th is Take Your Pet to Work Week!
Here at Powder Ridge Vet, we are lucky to be able to bring our pets to work with us! Having your pet at work can reduce stress, improve morale, and increase productivity. Pets can act as a source of comfort and companionship, which can lead to happier and more engaged employees. They also encourage social interaction and help create a more positive and welcoming work environment. We know this isn’t an option for a lot of offices, so we are truly fortunate!
If your pet is allowed to join you at work, here are some tips to help get them acclimated. Start slowly! Short visits at first can get them used to their new surroundings. Ensure that they have a safe space, like a crate, with a bed or blanket, toys, and fresh water nearby. Introduce them slowly to the sights and sounds of your workplace, including slow introductions to your co-workers. Offer positive reinforcement for good behavior and set clear rules and boundaries for their behavior. Share these rules and boundaries with your co-workers to help them understand how to interact with your pet safely. Make sure you remember to give your pet breaks and ensure they are getting enough exercise and mental stimulation before and during the workday. This can help prevent destructive behavior.
National Pet Choking Prevention Day is June 22nd
According to CNYSPCA, over 200,000 pet choking incidents occur annually in the United States. The good news is that pet choking is often preventable. According to Bow Wow Labs, the top choking hazards for dogs and cats include balls, sticks, chew toys, bully sticks, food packaging, string, window blind cords, fishing pole type toys, plastic, and rubber bands/hair ties.
To help safeguard your pet from the dangers of choking, here are some tips. First, size matters. Toys and treats that are smaller than your pet’s windpipe or large enough to block the airway can create a choking hazard. It’s important to select a proper sized toy for your pet. For instance, the diameter of a ball should always be wider than the width of your pet’s jaw. Toys should not be able to fit completely inside your pet’s mouth. Beware of chews and toys that break apart but don’t break down as these can all be hazardous. Secondly, know your pet. Each pet has different tendencies, and if yours is one that likes to swallow things whole, keep that in mind. And if you have a puppy or kitten, anticipate the worst and err on the side of caution when it comes to their toys and treats. Thirdly, never leave your pet unattended with treats and chews. If they aren’t finished with it when you need to leave, take it away from them and store it in a safe place until you return. Lastly, take care with multi-species households. The perfect toy for your cat could be a choking hazard for your dog and vice versa. Also, if you have a baby or toddler at home, watch for small toys that are left behind as those can easily pose a choking hazard for your dog or cat.