A holiday gift guide for animal lovers
by Jenny Alonge
A chill is in the air, and the stores are already pushing their best holiday deals. You don’t want your favorite four-legged family member to feel left out of the festivities, but do you know what is on your pet’s wish list? Whether they have been naughty or nice, we are suggesting some excellent gift ideas that will spoil your furry friend and help you express your thanks to your devoted veterinary team.
Delightful dog gifts
Finding the perfect present for your preferred pup can be challenging, especially if you pamper them regularly. Some ideas include:
- Food puzzle toy — Make mealtimes more fun by feeding your dog in a food puzzle toy that not only helps prevent boredom, but also stops your dog bolting their food. Numerous styles are on the market, so you can choose the best fit for your pup.
- Orthopedic bed — Your dog deserves a comfy place to rest. Orthopedic beds provide the best cushioning and support and are especially good for senior dogs who may suffer from arthritis.
- Glow in the dark ball — If your dog loves to play fetch, a glow in the dark ball is the perfect gift to ensure playtime is not over when the sun goes down.
- Durable chew toy — Dogs instinctively need to chew, and providing an appropriately sized durable chew toy helps ensure they won’t satisfy this instinct on your shoes or furniture.
- Dog booties — Dog booties are beneficial in hot and cold weather. During the hot months, the booties protect your dog’s feet from high asphalt temperatures, and during cold weather, they prevent your dog from getting deicer crystals, which can be a toxin risk, stuck between their toe pads.
- Sport training — If your dog is active, consider enrolling them in a sport, such as agility training, dock diving, or skijoring, to provide more mental and physical stimulation.
Captivating cat gifts
Whether your cat is overly mischievous or a cuddle bunny, they should be indulged during the holidays. Recommendations include:
- Water fountain — Cats have a low thirst drive, which can make them prone to dehydration and kidney disease. A water fountain can encourage your cat to drink more water.
- Laser pointer — Cats love to chase prey, and a laser pointer is the perfect way to stimulate your cat and keep them active.
- Cat tower — Cats enjoy surveying their environment from an elevated position. Purchase or build your own cat tower and give your cat an acceptable vantage point in a designated spot.
- Elevated shelving — Consider installing elevated shelves in your living area so your cat can enjoy navigating their environment from a lofty position.
- Cat scratcher — Cats need to scratch to stretch their muscles, remove dead nail tissue, and communicate with their fellow felines. An acceptable cat scratcher will prevent your cat from testing their claws on your curtains, furniture, or carpet.
- Cat running wheel — Invest in a cat running wheel to help your cat stay active when you aren’t at home.
Heavenly horse gifts
Don’t forget your equine friend during the holiday season. Gift recommendations for your horse include:
- Grooming set — You must brush your horse regularly to remove dirt and debris from their coat and keep their skin healthy. Gifting your horse a good grooming set ensures you will always have a brush on hand when you are ready to offer your equine friend some tender, loving, care.
- Hoof pick — Removing soil and rocks from your horse’s hooves helps prevent foot abscesses. Invest in a high-quality hoof pick to ensure you care for your horse’s hooves appropriately.
- Fly sheet — Fly sheets help protect your horse from biting insects and many also help prevent sunburn and sun-bleached coats.
- Treat ball — Hanging a treat ball in your horse’s stall can help prevent boredom and discourage unwanted behaviors, such as cribbing or weaving.
- Sports medicine boots — Sports medicine boots can protect your horse from minor abrasions and help prevent serious tendon and ligament injuries during a trail ride or a competitive event.
- Pasture balls — Horses love playing with balls they can kick and throw with their teeth, and they can enjoy these fun toys in their stall or in the pasture.
Superlative veterinary gifts
To express your appreciation for your dedicated veterinary team who cares for your pet, gift recommendations include:
- Healthy edible gifts — Veterinary practices are inundated with candy and baked goods during the holidays. Instead, give a healthy edible gift for veterinary team members who are more health conscious.
- Picture of your pet — Veterinary team members enjoy seeing pictures of their favorite pets and equine patients when they are healthy and happy.
- Handwritten note — Veterinary medicine is a demanding field, and many veterinarians and technicians feel underappreciated. They will appreciate a thoughtful, personalized handwritten note that expresses your gratitude.
- Positive review — Use social media to spread positive messages about the people who devote their time and energy to caring for your pet.
- Flowers — Flowers are a wonderful gift to brighten a veterinary office and make the team smile.
- Commemorative donation — Make an in-hospital donation to help provide funds to owners who can’t afford procedures for their pets.
These gift ideas should help any animal lover prepare for the holiday season. And, here’s a bonus gift tip—whether you own a cat, dog, or horse, their favorite gift is spending quality time with you.
About the author
Dr. Jenny Alonge received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University in 2002. She then completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Louisiana State University. After her internship, she joined an equine ambulatory service in northern Virginia where she practiced for almost 17 years. Alonge next decided to make a career change in favor of more creative pursuits and accepted a job as a veterinary copywriter for Rumpus Writing and Editing in April 2021. She adopted two unruly kittens, Olive and Pops, in February 2022.
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