Holiday
magic
 There’s
something magical about the holiday season, and I’m
not the only one who feels that way. I’m sure
our animal companions feel it too. My family dog, a
feisty Bichon named Lacey, could hardly wait until Christmas
morning. When the big day arrived, we’d find her
lying under her Christmas stocking (forget the other
five; she always knew which one was hers) with a definite
smile on her face. She unwrapped her presents like a
seasoned professional, carefully spitting out pieces
of paper to get to the treasured toys underneath.
I have to admit I find the animals’ excitement
infectious. I love watching the cat’s eyes get
as big as saucers when we dig out the holiday boxes
filled with decorations. As soon as the tree goes up,
she begins her weeks-long game of hide and seek. And
Christmas baking took a whole new turn when we started
making dog-friendly cookies in addition to the usual
shortbread. The huskies inevitably found their way into
the kitchen while I was preparing their special treats
(how can they tell the difference between animal-friendly
carob and human-mandatory chocolate, I still wonder?)
In this, our biggest issue ever, you’ll find lots
of ways to incorporate the animals’ excitement
into your holiday festivities. Check out the healthy
holiday recipes on page 48, as well as the gift guide
on page 54 and our holiday safety tips on page 42.
Of course, in addition to our holiday content, you’ll
find loads of information on how to keep your animals
healthy so they can enjoymany more holiday seasons with
you. There are no secrets here – feed
them the right diet (page 82), don’t
overvaccinate (page 88), give them lots of exercise
and try some integrative approaches with your animal
companion’s health care. You are your animal’s
health care advocate; if your veterinarian doesn’t
respect your desire to be involved, maybe you should
make a New Year’s resolution to find a new vet.
Remember, the only thing your dog or cat ever hopes
for from you is love, food and shelter. But after the
basics, wellness is the greatest gift you can bestow.
On behalf of everyone here at Animal Wellness, happy
holidays!
Dana
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