Holiday Pet Safety

KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Dear JoAnne:

Last year a friend of mine's dog went to the emergency clinic when he ate some pointsettas and my cats keep making a mess of the tree.  How do I celebrate the season and keep my pets safe?

Regards,
Troubled under the Tree

Dear Troubled,

With all the festivities and excitement that goes on around the house during the holidays, sometimes it is easy to overlook the dangers to your pets. Animal Emergency Clinics are busy this time of the year because pets have been unwittingly injured or sickened by holiday decorations, plants, food etc.

Here are some important tips to help keep your pet safe this holiday season:

• Keep holiday decorations out of reach. The holiday tree is a wonderful new toy for cats and dogs. Climbing, shinny ball decorations, sparkling tinsel, packaged gifts, electrical cords can cause injury or a life threatening blockage if ingested.
• Certain plants and flowers are poisonous to pets and can result in an unexpected emergency visit. Poinsettias, Amaryllis and Mistletoe are on the list of common holiday plants that can be very dangerous to house pets who eat them.
• Make sure your pet does not have access to the tree water as they can get sick drinking from it.
• During holiday parties and visits, pets can be stressed very easily when there is a lot of activity, noise and strangers in their home. Put your pets in another room where they can have peace and quiet or allow them access to a secluded room. This will also prevent children from cornering an animal or similar situation where normally docile pets may bite.
• Many people believe that the holidays are a good excuse to give "people food" as treats to their pets.  The ingredients in a holiday feast, including onions, garlic, chocolate and artificial sweeteners, are poisonous to pets. Pancreatitis (food poisoning), bloat, vomiting and severe diarrhea can result in pets eating food to which they are not accustomed. Remember to keep all sweets away from reach - chocolate is one of the most dangerous foods for pets and one of the most tempting. Many times a pet may consume chocolate while you are away from home, and by the time you arrive home, too much time has lapsed and the vet cannot treat the animal successfully.
• Unattended candles are a major cause of pet burns and house fires.
• If you have adopted a new pet (puppy, kitten, etc) into your family, the experience can be doubly overwhelming. New pets can easily become sick because family members and friends are carrying the animal around, petting them, and so on. Animals, particularly young ones, need time and space to rest and to adjust to the new family and environment.

If you remember to follow these suggestions, everyone will enjoy a happy and safe holiday season.

Season's Greetings,
JoAnne