Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holiday

KEEPING PETS SAFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS
BY: DR. LISA SCHENKEL, DVM, CVRT

 The holiday season is a time to decorate and celebrate with family and friends, both two-legged and four-legged.  However, many of the foods and decorations that are harmless to humans can pose a serious health risk for your pets. The following helpful hints are offered to ensure a happy and safe holiday season for your pet:

YOUR PETS ARE NOT GARBAGE DISPOSALS FOR HOLIDAY LEFTOVERS:

  • TURKEY BONES CAN SPLINTER AND CAUSE OBSTRUCTIONS.
  • SUDDEN CHANGE IN DIET AND FATTY FOODS CAN LEAD TO VOMITING AND/OR DIARRHEA.
  • CERTAIN FOODS CAN BE TOXIC:  CHOCOLATE, ONIONS OR ONION POWDER, RAISINS AND GRAPES, MACADAMIA NUTS, COFFEE (GROUNDS OR BEANS), GARLIC, SALT, YEAST DOUGH, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, MOLDY OR SPOILED FOOD.

CROWDS AND HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES CAN FRIGHTEN SOME PETS:

  • SET ASIDE A SAFE AND QUIET HAVEN FOR YOUR PET IF NECESSARY
  • ANY DISRUPTION OF THE HOME, SUCH AS REARRANGING THE FURNITURE, MAY CAUSE YOUR CAT TO STOP USING THE LITTER BOX.
  • BE CAREFUL WITH HOLIDAY DECORATIONS:
    • SOME COMMON YULETIDE PLANTS SUCH AS POINSETTIAS, IVY, MISTLETOE, AND HOLLY BERRIES CAN BE TOXIC.
    • PLACE CANDLES IN PLACES WHERE YOUR PET CAN’T GET TO THEM AND POSSIBLY BURN HIM OR HERSELF AND YOUR HOME.
    • TAPE DOWN AND HIDE LOOSE WIRES TO PREVENT YOUR PET FROM CHEWING ON THEM AND POSSIBLY ELECTROCUTING HIM OR HERSELF.
    • REMOVE BOWS, RIBBONS AND YARN FROM DISCARDED WRAPPING PAPER AND CUT AWAY HANDLES FROM SHOPPING AND GIFT BAGS. ALSO, KEEP ALUMINUM FOIL AWAY FROM YOUR PET. WHEN SWALLOWED, THESE ITEMS CAN CAUSE CHOKING, VOMITING,AND POSSIBLY INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

OH TANNENBAUM!  MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE PET FRIENDLY:

  • CATS LOVE TO CLIMB TREES – POSITION YOUR TREE ON A WIDE, FLAT, AND STABLE BASE AND ANCHOR THE TREE TO A NEARBY WALL OR WINDOW.
  • DECORATE WITH ANIMAL-SAFE ITEMS, ESPECIALLY THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE. TINSEL, RIBBONS, AND POPCORN STRANDS CAN CAUSE POTENTIALLY FATAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTIONS IF SWALLOWED; BROKEN GLASS ORNAMENTS CAN CUT YOUR PET’S MOUTH AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.
  • CHRISTMAS TREE WATER MAY CONTAIN FERTILIZERS AND STAGNANT TREE WATER IS A FERTILE BREEDING GROUND FOR BACTERIA.  IF INGESTED, YOUR PET MAY DEVELOP VOMITING AND/OR DIARRHEA.  MAKE SURE THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE IS COVERED.

ANTIFREEZE IS A TASTY BUT DEADLY TREAT:

This is also the time of year for changing the antifreeze in your car. Antifreeze smells and taste very sweet to pets, however, a very small amount can cause fatal kidney failure (less than 4 teaspoons in 10 lb dog, as little as one teaspoon in an average size cat).
It is important to clean up any spills and store antifreeze in a tightly closed container in a closed cabinet.

AND FOR THOSE CHOCOHOLICS OUT THERE:

Most owners are aware of the potential danger that chocolate poses to their pets.  However, the amount and type of chocolate plays a role in the seriousness of the signs your pet may experience after getting into the holiday chocolate; signs that range from vomiting and diarrhea in mild cases, to seizuring in severe cases.  The following offers guidelines on the amount of different chocolates that may cause serious signs in your pet:

 TYPE OF CHOCOLATE

MILD SIGNS

SEVERE SIGNS

 White Chocolate
of body weight

 45 oz/lbs of body weight

 90 oz/lbs of body weight

 Milk Chocolate
of body weight

 0.7 oz/lbs of body weight

 2 oz/lbs of body weight

 Semi Sweet Chocolate
of body weight

 1/3 oz/lbs of body weight

 1 oz/lbs of body weight

 Instant Cocoa Mix
of body weight

 1/3 oz/lbs of body weight

 1 oz/lbs of body weight

 Baking Chocolate
of body weight

0.1 oz/lbs of body weight

 0.3 oz/lbs of body weight