March 20th is the first day of Spring, bringing with it longer days, warmer (we hope) temperatures and Spring flowers. 

With Easter around the corner, it's important to note that Lilies are highly toxic to cats.  The leaves, pollen and flower of lily plants can make your cat extremely sick and can even be fatal.  Some signs of lily toxicity are loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy and liver failure. 

According to the ASPCA, some varieties of lilies are also toxic to dogs and include lily of the valley, calla lily, peace lily or palm lily (which is the houseplant Dracaena).  Dogs who have ingested these lilies may experience stomach upset, tremors and depression.

A few other popular Spring blooms are also dangerous.  These include Daffodils (otherwise known as paper whites, narcissus or jonquils), Tulips and Azaleas.  Daffodils and Tulips contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause drooling, intense vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea and heart problems.  If the leaves of the Azaleas are ingested, they can cause loss of appetite, stomach upset, weakness, leg paralysis, central nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.

If you suspect your pet has plant/flower toxicity, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Pay careful attention to the type of plants/flowers you bring indoors or plant outside.  There are a number of attractive plants that are non-toxic to pets.  Consider African Violet, Rose, Begonia or Easter Daisy, to name just a few.

Bathe, trim and beautify! The holidays are an exciting time of year for us because we get to primp and pamper our pet clients more than ever.  A number of our clients will request a special haircut for their pets or provide us with beautiful bows or neckerchiefs with which to adorn them. 

Having the holiday family photo taken?  Be sure to book your grooming session ahead of time, so we can have your pet ready for her/his close-up!

We love that our pets participate in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays - from joining us on the neighborhood Christmas stroll to alerting us of all the UPS gift deliveries and "supervising" the delectable treats we're cooking-up in the kitchen.

And of course…curling up with us in front of the fireplace.  There is no place like home when you're with your best buddy.

The holidays are all about giving.  A tasty treat or a new squeak toy will certainly be appreciated, but the best gifts you can give your pet are your love and attention.

With the New Year fast approaching, we'd like to take this opportunity to tell all of our pets and pet parents how much we value you and thank you for your continued patronage.  We look forward to serving you in the coming year.

Wishing you health and happiness this holiday season from all of your friends at Zoomin Groomin!