play_arrowGreat Gifts for Pets—And Items to Avoid Val Cairney
Well we are getting into the time of year when Christmas lights and trees are going up and the shopping has begun. And because our pets are part of the family, we always get them Christmas or holiday gifts as well. So let’s talk about Great Gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers—And the Surprising Items to Avoid.
When it comes to Christmas items for dogs, there are a lot. Generally we think of toys and treats to put in their stockings. Toys can be anything from the usual toys you generally buy to Christmas themed toys. Tundra has a giant Snoopy dressed as Santa that he has had for years! There are all kinds of Santa, Snowmen, Elves, Polar bears, you name it, in stuffies with squeakers, or non-stuffing, plus balls and throwing items and the list goes on. Treats are often themed as well with the regular treat companies coming out with their Christmas and holiday treats with themed bags and sometimes flavours that are for the season like cinnamon or pumpkin or cranberry.
If you want to start the season right from December 1st, you can get a pet Advent calendar. Many of the treat companies put out a dog or cat Advent calendar that has you open a little door with a treat inside all the way up to Christmas day. There are also toy Advent Calendars that work well for small dogs, with a toy every day from the 1st to the 25th. And if you hit the store close to December 1st, they are usually half off!
But, what other gifts can we get for under the tree or for a friends dog or a family member’s dog? Let’s look at some of the popular ideas.
When it comes to apparel there is quite a trend for matching outfits for human and dog. Hoodies for example can be worn by both and be in a matching pattern and colour. The big one however, is P.J’s. There are a lot of Christmas themed P.J’s for dogs but there are also whole family P.J.’s so that everyone matches on Christmas morning, even the dog. This could be a fun gift for the whole family.
This time of year I also find people like to refresh some of their dog’s things. For example, a new bed often gets purchased. The beds that are popular right now are calming beds or blankets and orthopedic beds. The calming beds or blankets are infused with calming herbs that help a dog with anxiety and to sleep. I often see lavender as a scent in a calming bed.
Orthopedic beds are really on the rise. These beds are designed to help dogs with conditions that affect their mobility or cause pain throughout their day. Orthopedic beds are not just for dogs with arthritis however, according to thebrooklyn.net, “A high quality bed supports healthy joints and reduces the risk of developing arthritis and other orthopaedic conditions.”
The benefits for an orthopaedic bed can really help a dog with overall health, making them feel more comfortable and sleeping better. “Orthopaedic dog beds, designed with memory foam, ensure even weight distribution to relieve pressure on joints and promote proper spinal alignment.” (thebrooklyn.net) A nice new bed is always a great gift idea for under the tree.
Another similar idea is getting a new blanket for your pet. There are some nice cozy blankets you can get for an existing bed or for the crate. But, two types of blankets that I’d like to highlight are from Dogs Smarter by Design.
The first blanket is called Itchy Witchy and this blanket helps dogs with itching and twitching. The description states that the blanket is “Soothing, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-Fungal and Anti-Yeast” Let me read you the description.
“The Itchy Witchy blanket uses a revolutionary technology of micro-encapsulated essential oils with anti-fungal, anti-yeast and antimicrobial properties. The essential oils are friction released onto the fur as the dog rests on the blanket.” Pretty cool!
The other blanket made by Dogs Smarter Design is the Chill Kuzzi. This is a Far Infra-Red healing blanket. This blanket by description calms, heals, relaxes and restores.
“Scientific studies have shown that long-wave infrared fabric technology can support overall dog health in a meaning way. Benefits include: Calming. “By reducing cortisol levels which has been shown to lessen anxiety and fearfulness. Great for thunderstorms and separation anxiety. Heals, by boosting performance of the body’s cells, accelerating the natural healing of injuries. Helps with aches, pains and joint stiffness associated with arthritis and inflammation. Restores and Relaxes by improving blood circulation and oxygen level-speeding muscle recovery.”
That sounds amazing. What a great gift this would be not just for your own pet but for someone else’s pet that you think could really benefit from either blanket.
Because we have just been talking about Far Infra-Red, another gift you can get is an actual Red Light therapy heating pad, or pad or laser devise. Now, these are expensive, but the heating pad or red light pads that are wrapped around the area of significance are actually more price friendly.
Okay, so what else can we get for our pet for Christmas? How about a treat puzzle?
Treat puzzles come in different levels of difficulty and there are ones for dogs and cats. The idea is to place treats in the chambers provided and the dog or cat has to figure out the configuration to get the treats out.
Sort of on the same idea as puzzles, talking buttons is a really fun gift to try out at Christmas.
This idea is not as much for the pet but for the pet parent. A wireless GPS tracker may be an awesome gift…
Other gifts that can be for a pet parent are things like grooming wipes or the paw cleaning buckets…
A gift card at the pet parent’s favourite groomer would probably be much appreciated.
And one last thought for the pet parent is the great selection of pet friendly products for the pet parent’s vehicle…
But overall, the fun on Christmas morning is gathering the pets to open their stocking and presents, so toys, treats and chews are what they really want.
Sometimes, a friend or family member wants to get a person’s pet a gift and they walk through the grocery isle and low and behold there are prepared stockings…
Rawhide!! That is a big no no.
Cheap treats can also be a gastronomic vomit fest…
When it comes to chews, often pet parents like to choose something the dog will like but will also last…
Cats, also love Christmas and they can have their stockings full of Cat nip toys…
Cheap toys are the most concern when it comes to cats.
There are so many things we can get for our pets at Christmas and over the holidays…
Hopefully I have given you some ideas and brought forth some of the cautions.
Hi everyone, and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets, the forum for pet parents and enthusiasts alike. So, I have been working in the pet industry now for almost 10 years and, on a daily basis, I handle a lot of issues and questions arising from pet parents. I am not a veterinarian but I do have certifications in Canine, Feline, Small Animal, Fish and Herptile and Avian Health and Nutrition from the University of California, Davis Extension, the Vet College.
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