New Year’s Eve can be a tough time for pets. Between the loud fireworks and guests, even the most social pets can feel a little intimidated. One danger you may not have considered is alcohol. In the midst of the festivities, your curious dog or cat may help themselves to someone’s glass and it can make them sick.

Start your New Year off right and avoid a pet emergency. Here’s what you need to know.

Bloat in dogs is an extremely serious and dangerous medical condition that should be treated as a medical emergency. Even mild cases of bloat can turn fatal. Although the causes of bloat are still not clear, the symptoms that occur are fairly consistent and are a sign that you should seek immediate medical attention. Educating yourself on this terrible condition is the best way to help prevent it and reduce the risks to your dog, should they ever get it.

It’s generally agreed that Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. And who better to celebrate the start of the season with than your dog? When bringing your four-legged best friend along for some Memorial Day festivities, be sure to avoid any possible dog emergencies with the following summertime safety tips.

Taking care of a dog is typically pretty straight forward. You have to make sure that they eat every day, that they have a safe place to sleep at night, and that they get the love and attention they deserve as a furry member of your family. But dealing with a sick dog may become tricky -- not to mention stressful.

Foxtails may look like harmless tall grasses to the untrained eye, but they’re actually devils-in-disguise. Common in the Western United States, this fast-growing weed can grow 4 feet tall and proliferate easily, spreading their seeds everywhere.

This is bad news for dog lovers as they’re downright dangerous to our sweet pups.

If your dog or cat had an accident, would you know how to stabilize them before transporting them to the vet or to an emergency veterinary care center? The goal of National Pet First Aid Awareness Month in April is to ensure pet owners are aware of basic actions to take in the case of a pet-related emergency. Here are some tips to remember if your pet has an emergency:

A kidney breakdown is a frightening thing. As you may remember from biology class, kidneys filter out substances the body can’t use and release it as urine. They also help control blood pressure and maintain healthy levels of hydration, salts, and acids in the body.

Basically, having at least one healthy kidney is essential to having a healthy and well-functioning body.

Most people think of bleach or rat poison when they think of household toxins. If that’s you, you’re right. Yet, there are many other less obvious items that could pose a hazard.

Take sugar-free gum for instance. Did you know that it contains xylitol, which can cause liver failure in your dog? The popular sugar substitute is also in certain brands of toothpaste and sweetener packets for coffee and tea. Yet, it can be deadly to your dog.

And that’s just one of dozens of poisonous products your pets may encounter in a typical day.