Top 10 pet health tips for the holidays

Here are the AVMA's top 10 pet tips for holiday safety:

1. Be wary of holiday decorations; pets often consume them. "The animal raids the Christmas tree, for example, and this can be unhealthy for the pet and very upsetting for the pet owners," says Dr. Larry R. Corry, AVMA president. "If they consume enough tinsel or other decorations, it can cause a blockage that requires surgery."

2. Flowers are another common holiday feature that can result in an emergency visit. Poinsettias, Amaryllis and mistletoe are on the list of common holiday plants that can be dangerous and even poisonous to house pets who decide to eat them, Corry says.

3. Just like people, some pets are better at dealing with houseguests than others. If you know your pet has a problem with visitors, work with your veterinarian for solutions.

4. Don't let your pet climb the Christmas tree. If the tree falls over, your pet could be injured. Consider tying the tree to the ceiling or a doorframe using fishing line.

5. Cover Christmas tree water to keep animals from drinking it. The sap from live Christmas trees can make your pet sick.

6. Many people believe that people food makes good treats for their pets, but this isn't the case. Many common ingredients in a holiday feast - like onions, garlic, chocolate and artificial sweeteners - are poisonous to pets. And dogs that consume an excessive amount of fatty foods, by cleaning a turkey carcass pulled from the trash, for example, can develop a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis.

7. Whether they are Halloween candies or Christmas chocolate, keep sweets out of your pet's reach, particularly while you're out. A pet that consumes chocolates while you're away at work, for example, might be too sick for your veterinarian to save by the time you get home.

8. Unplug decorations while you're not around. Cats and dogs are often tempted to chew electrical cords.

9. Keep any gift that includes human food out of a pet's reach. With their sensitive sense of smell, dogs and cats can find those wrapped treats and open them when you're not around.

10. Candles are a common part of many holiday celebrations. Make sure that you keep lit candles out of a pet's reach, because the animal could light themselves, or your home, on fire.

Meet Swanky Pet, Gus!

This is Gus --- she is an 8 month old chocolate lab,and lives in Patchogue, New York. Gus loves to go swimming everyday and play with her two best friends Bella (an olde english bulldog) and Roxy(an english bulldog). Mom, Ashley tells me that by nighttime she is a big snugglebug! She just wants to lay on the couch and sleep. Most importantly when you tell Gus she is going to go "bye bye" we put her leash on and she picks it up her self in her mouth and waits for us by the door!!!

Meet Swanky Pets: Natty!

Meet Natty - a lovely 5 year old living with her family in Omaha, NE. Mom, Pamela tells me: "Since she was about 10 months old she has been an amazing hunting dog. She enjoys fetching birds, laying around, and playing with her toy pig and duck. She is the best dog in the world, she is the prettiest in my eyes."

Look at her shiny, black coat! She's very beautiful and I think Mom picked the perfect collar to stand out: 60's Chic

Meet Swanky Pets: Jimmy & Wally!

Meet Jimmy and Wally - rescue pups who live with their family in Mission Viejo, CA. Mom, Paula tells me: :They are about 9 months old now and I recently bought them new collars. Jimmy got the Swanky Tartan and Wally the Kiltlifter. They look awesome on them and seem like they are really comfortable.

We are not sure of their breeds, although, even though they are litter mates, Wally looks very much like an American Fox Hound and Jimmy looks like he might be a Foxhound/American Bulldog mix. Wally has not been able to bite on the clasp (yet) and steal Jimmy's collar (like he used to with the plastic clasp).

The collars are great - thanks!"

What two adorable dogs!!

Dog rescued from Iraq finds loving home in USA

How far will people go to rescue cats and dogs? One person, Terri Crisp, has made 23 trips to Iraq to help bring home soldiers' pets.

Maj. Steven Hutchison got tremendous comfort from Laia, according to this Detroit Free Press story, before Hutchison became the oldest victim of the war at age 60 in May. He slept with his arms round the dog. Now, Laia is living in the USA with a family, thanks to Crisp and Operation Baghdad Pups, an effort sponsored by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International to bring home soldiers cats and dogs.

Even though it's against the military's rules, soldiers are adopting pets in Afghanistan and Iraq, finding the dogs and cats bring themselves and those around them good cheer during difficult times.

Crisp, the program manager for the SPCA, told the Detroit Free Press:

"There may be some people who say, 'You are wasting all that time and money and putting people's lives in danger to go pick up a dog?' " said Terri Crisp, the program manager.

"But these dogs are so much more. ... They have gotten them through some incredibly tough things. ...A lot of the guys will say that when they go out on patrol, the closer they get back to base, they look forward to getting there, because the dog or cat is waiting for them."

Meet Swanky Pet: Onyx!

This lovely lady is Onyx, wearing her new Swanky Plaid collar. She's two years old and recently adopted by her mom Brianne and her family who live in Grand Junction, Colorado.

A local doctor there had been fostering her for a year and became very attached to Onyx and wasn't sure he would let someone else adopt her. But when he met Brianne and her family he knew Onyx would have a safe, stable home and would be very happy. And she is!

Brianne tells me: "She is very sweet and loving. She is also very playful and has to be with someone all the time. She had been abused so we are glad to love her! Thank you so much for sending the collar! She looks gorgeous in it!!"

What a great story!

September's Photo Entry Winner

Meet this month's 'swanky' photo winner - General Blue Monroe. He is a Brindle Bull Terrier who lives with mom and dad, Karen & Royce in Odessa, TX. Mom, Karen writes:

"We lost our bully 2/2/09 whom also wore your harness. On Feb 23 I flew from Texas and the breeder drove to meet me from Canada in the worst snow storm to hit that area of NY this winter to get our new General Blue Monroe (brindle bull terrier) The pictures I sent our of “Blue” Sunday before Easter 09. Thank you for having the very best harness’s in the world!"

I think General Blue looks very handsome in his Eggscellent harness & lead set. For being this month's winner, he wins (or maybe Mom wins) a free collar of her choice!

Today's Featured Print: Batty!

Today's featured print is from our Seasonal Collection - a Halloween print called Batty! This cute but creepy print is perfect for the upcoming season and features a black background with lots of little bright green bats! 

This print is available for collars, harnesses & leads. 

All items are constructed with four layers of fabric and are lined with lightweight nylon webbing for structure and durability. All hardware is top quality: contoured zinc die cast side release buckles, durable slip lock buckles, cast D-rings and heavy nickel plate swivel snap hooks. If you prefer a more lightweight item, your item can be made with a contoured acetal side-release buckle instead.

All orders for this print are 15% off through midnight tonight! 

Meet Swanky Pet: Sofie!

This adorable pup is Sofie - a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who lives with mom Carol in Quincy, IL. Here, little Sofie is showing off her Swanky Plaid harness and lead set. We think she looks fantastic and very swanky!

Sweet Dog Organics Partners with Meals on Wheels

Today is a big day for Sweet Dog Organics. Sweet Dog has partnered with Meals on Wheels-Greater San Diego to provide organic dog treats for the dogs of homebound seniors receiving their daily meals from this hard working organization. Sweet Dog Organics will provide organics dog treats to the dogs of seniors twice a month with their regular meals. As dog people, we understand that pets, especially, dogs are known to help their owners fight depression, lower their blood pressure and improve their well-being. 

Read more here.

Meet Swanky Pet: Enrico!

This is Enrico, the American Pit Bull Cow who lives in Manchester, CT. It's amazing how well his I Need More Cowbell collar matches his spots! Enrico's mom, Heather tells us a little about him:

Likes: running. running. running into traffic with no regards to his life. cheese, walks, most dogs, his best friend Jet, a teacup yorkie, his collars, belly rubs, people (adults and behaved older children), flowers, sneaking onto my bed at night, tv, his training classes, and almost everything.
Dislikes: vacuums, metal water bowls, small loud children (a fear we are working on), water.

"I saw this little guy in an add online when he was about 1 week old. One of two white dogs in the whole litter. With the two black spots on his back, and his black legs he looked just like a baby cow. This poor guy entered my life at 6 weeks old. He was living in a pile of hay on a dirt basement floor. He was full of worms and had never seen a vet. We went straight from the "breeders" right to the vet. I'm not quite sure what they did to this beautiful dog, but he has some very unreasonable strange fears. He has been attending classes with an amazing dog trainer who even comes to the house to work with him and help him with his fears and now loves other dogs. He actually goes up to them and licks them to death. Enrico is just the sweetest dog. He also has a special way of going down the stairs. Every day he lays down at the top, stretches out his arms and legs and actually slides all the way down on his belly, then sits on the bottom step looking back at me with his tongue hanging out and a giant smile on his face. It cracks me up every time. I just couldn't imagine what would have happened to my little cow boy if I hadn't taken him away from his horrible living situation. When I found this cow collar on your website I was sooo excited and loved that it even came with a cowbell! Now he is offcially a cow dog. He wears it with such pride and loves to hear the bell jingling away as he walks, runs, and prances around. Thank you so much!"