 Give Your Pets Have a Safe
and happy holiday
In addition to all the shopping and cooking and traveling,
the holidays present additional challenges for pet owners:
keeping their pets safe and healthy. To help ensure that the
season is, in fact, merry, here are a few helpful suggestions.
Holiday Hazards
-
Holiday Foods & Beverages Holiday
fare is rife with danger for pets: meats,
poultry, gravy, skin, bones, alcohol, chocolate and other
sweet treats are potentially toxic to animals, putting
them at risk for all kinds of gastric distress, including:
enteritis, colitis, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction & puncture,
anaphylaxis, and just plain poisoning. Secure garbage (inside
and out) and limit holiday treats to those specifically made
for animals.
If your pet does eat or drink something it shouldn't, DO
NOT INDUCE VOMITING, as it can make things worse.
Keep your pet comfortable and contact a veterinarian immediately.
If it's after hours, SRVH's outgoing message gives contact
information for local emergency centers, as well as Dr.
Weber's number.
If you believe your pet has consumed something poisonous, keep this
information by your phone:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435.
There is a
fee for each consultation. ASPCA.org/apcc.
Pet Poison Helpline: (800) 213-6680, $35
fee (pay by credit card) per incident; PetPoisonHelpline.com.
- Christmas Trees Everything
from the glittery tinsel to the water it sits in can
lead to a serious medical emergency for your pets. Pine
needles can puncture intestines and the water will make them
sick. Make sure to keep lights and decorations out of reach.
You may want to secure the top of your tree to the ceiling
to keep it from falling on them.
- Toys & Wrapping Small
plastic pieces and rubber balls are common causes of choking
and intestinal blockage and must often be removed surgically.
Ribbons, bows, foil paper, string, fabric, and styrofoam
are just as dangerous for the same reasons.
-
Things That Look and Smell Pretty Besides
the obvious risks, like candles, glass ornaments,
and electric cords,
there are other hazards you may not even know about.
Did
you know that snow globes often contain antifreeze? Less
than a teaspoon can prove fatal.
Scented
oils and pot pourri can also be toxic to cats, resulting
in chemical burns, difficulty breathing, and tremors if ingested.
Artificial or spray-on
snow can also cause problems if inhaled or ingested.
- Plants & Flowers Lots
of beautiful holiday plants and arrangements have ugly consequences
if chewed or ingested by pets. Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe,
lilies, philodendron, and dieffenbachia are just a few of
the usual suspects. For a complete list,
see the ASPCA
list of toxic and non-toxic plants: ASPCA.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/
- Parties With
family and guests coming and going, the risk of
losing your pet through an open door sky-rockets. Make
sure your pet has current tags or, better still, a microchip
(see SRVH's special offer in the sidebar).
The upset in their routine can also agitate them, leaving
them more likely to bark or bite, and more vulnerable to
stress-induced illnesses. Make
sure that their vaccinations are up-to-date and reduce their
stress with regular exercise. Make sure they have a safe,
quiet room with plenty of water during
get-togethers. If your pets are allowed to mingle with guests,
make sure everyone knows not to slip them a little something
from their plate.
- Winter Weather Even
pets need protection from the cold, especially those bred
for warmer climates. Pets
should always have a warm, dry place to escape the elements,
preferably indoors or in a heated place in the garage. Dogs'
feet are very sensitive to cold surfaces and need shielding
from ice, which can collect between their toes. Cats who
spend time outdoors might be drawn to the warmth of an engine,
so make sure to tap on your car's hood before starting it
up.
- Double Check Smoke Detectors & Batteries It will keep everyone
safer.
If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call.
We want you and your pets to have a safe and happy holiday
season.
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