Holiday Safety Tips

EACH HOLIDAY SEASON WE OFFER A REMINDER OF THE HAZARDS
OF THE SEASON THAT FACE YOUR PET

Be careful how you deck your halls! The holiday season is generally a time of family togetherness in which even our pets participate. One’s thoughts generally are far from thoughts of injury; however, one must be aware of some important seasonal hazards in order to insure a happy holiday season.

RIBBONS & TINSEL - These are of special interest to playful cats and kittens who see these materials as toys (or prey) to be chased, pounced upon, chewed or swallowed. While chasing and pouncing pose no health threats, chewing and swallowing do, as these strings or “linear foreign bodies” can catch in the GI tract, leading to bunching of intestine as the body tries in vain to move the string or ribbon through. This is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery for correction. Supervise animals who play with string closely.

ELECTRIC LIGHT CORDS - These are also tempting to cats who like to play with string as well as to puppies who are teething and interested in chewing. If a pet bites through an electrical cord, it could result in a severe burn to the tongue which causes the pet’s lung to fill with fluid, causing respiratory distress. This is also an emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention.

CHOCOLATE - Many people do not realize that chocolate can be a poison. Unsweetened baking chocolate carries a much higher dose of the toxin “theobromine” than does milk chocolate, but even normal milk chocolate can be dangerous; a small dog sharing candy can wind up in big trouble. Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning include hyperexcitability, nervousness, vomiting, and diarrhea and death.

POINSETTIA - Consuming this festive-looking plant can be irritating to the mouth and stomach of the dog or cat that chews on or eats it. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettia is not specifically toxic.

MISTLETOE - The fact that there are several types of mistletoe makes it difficult to predict the clinical signs of poisoning. Some mistletoes produce only stomach upset while others may lead to liver failure or seizuring. Consider mistletoe to be a hazardous substance and keep it inaccessible to pets and children.

COOKING - Keep pets out of the kitchen during the hustle and bustle of the season. The last thing you want is for someone you love to get underfoot and get burned from spillage.

DIETARY INDISCRETION - We all like to include our pets in Holiday meals along with the rest of the family, but try to keep in mind that sudden rich diet changes are likely to upset a pet’s stomach. Vomiting and diarrhea are not uncommon. If leftovers are of an especially fatty nature, the pancreas may become inflamed and overloaded. This condition is serious and may require hospitalization.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - Please don't give these to your pets! Being drunk is never fun for a pet, even though they might like the flavors.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The very things that make the holidays festive for people can make them fatal to pets, U.S. veterinarians warn.

Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says turkey, tinsel, greasy foods, mistletoe, Christmas trees, chocolates and baked goods are all things that can result in an emergency veterinary visit.

"Consider the dog that gets into that turkey carcass," DeHaven says in a video for a pet-safe holiday. "Because of the high fat content this can cause a really serious condition called pancreatitis.

"This is the time of year many veterinary hospitals report more emergency calls than any other time -- often associated with pets getting into food they simply shouldn't have, DeHaven says.

"Many of the worst poisonings during the holiday season occur when we're not at home. Be sure after Thanksgiving dinner that you put that turkey carcass out in the trash, well out of reach of your pets," DeHaven says. Also, wrap candies or foods that may be in holiday packages because a pet has a sensitive nose and could get into those things -- and if that happens while you're not home, you wouldn't be there to help them, DeHaven recommends.