Sunday, December 19, 2010

Wishing You and Your Four-Leggers A Safe Holiday Season

Well, somehow the holidays are upon us.  If you are like me, they sneak up every year.  It is easy to get caught up in the swirl of activities this season brings with it:  holiday parties, religous and spiritual celebrations, lots of cooking and baking, and family and friends paying us visits.  While pets can be integrated into many, if not all, of these activities, they can also run into dangers.  As the holiday season kicks off, be diligent and make sure you know how to keep your pets safe.  Below are a few tips I have gathered over the years.

But, first I'd like to share a story of my own about my dog Frisco's brush with holiday danger.  I am a huge fan of southwestern design, so it is no surprise that I decorate with chili lights during the holidays.  Well, Frisco is also a huge fan of chili lights.  So, one evening, she picked the plastic chilis off each light and swallowed them whole!  Yes, each and every one.  Frisco was VERY lucky that the chilis didn't cause severe gastrointestinal problems, but she managed to skate through without any adverse side effects.  And I found the chilis strewn about the yard still whole several days later.  So, I speak from experience when I say - watch your pets during the holidays.  They can find trouble in places you'd never guess!

First, have your vet's number, the emergency clinic's number and the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline number handy - just in case.  If something happens, the last thing you want to be doing is frantically searching for phone numbers.  ASPCA Poison Control Hotline:  1-888-4ANI-HELP.

Food
Many foods present dangers to our furry friends.  Alcoholic beverages, chocolate (all chocolate is toxic, but the less sugar and milk, the more dangerous it is), coffee, onions, grapes, macadamia nuts, fatty foods, salt, and yeast dough are several of the most dangerous.  'Tis the season for rich foods.  Rich and fatty foods can cause your pet's abdominal cavity to become inflamed.  While this can usually be treated, in some cases, it can be fatal.  So, it is really important to limit the "human food" your pet ingests during the holidays.

Plants
Just like yummy treats, plants and flower arrangements are part of the holiday season.  Many of the flowers that represent the holiday spirit are very dangerous to cats and dogs.  Plants can cause mild symptoms such as an upset stomach, lethargy or irritation in the mouth and stomach to more serious symptoms like kidney failure.  Some plants can even cause death.  If you own cats, lilies are a BAD idea.  I say this as a lover of lilies.  Even a small amount of a lily could cause your feline friend to go into irreversible and fatal kidney failure.  Other holiday plants to watch out for: pointsettias, misteltoe and holly.  You can spray a fine mist of hot sauce on plants to make them less enticing to your pet, or you can simply keep them out of your pet's reach.  For more information about toxic plants, visit the ASPCA's website.  For dogs, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plant-list-dogs.aspx?print=t.  For cats, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plant-list-cats.aspx.

Guests
When you have guests visit, particularly when they stay with you, you are upsetting your pet's routine.  Make sure that guests know where your pets are allowed and where they are not.  You don't want your pet to wander out into the road or to get lost in the midst of activity and excitement.  If your pet is prone to stress, take this into account as you prepare for your guests.  Perhaps consider limiting your pet's exposure to the guests, or let your pets introduce themselves at their own pace.  Also be aware of the things your guests bring with them.  Animals are often curious about visitors' belongings and will often root out perscription pills, candy or personal items.  When guests are visiting, it is a good idea to keep the door to the guest room shut to prevent any unfortunate discoveries on your pet's part.

Holiday Decorations
Pets can be very curious about holiday decorations.  Any edible ornaments can give your pet an upset tummy.  Tinsel can cause severe gastrointestinal problems (for a depiction of this, see Sumis Says on my clinic's website).  Pets can ingest non-edible ornaments as well.  If your pets have a tendency to help themselves to fuzzy, wooden, plastic or otherwise inedible objects, consider decorating your tree only near the top.  While this may look a little funny, it will keep your pet safe and still give you the chance to enjoy your tree.  If you have a Christmas tree, be careful what chemicals you add to the water.  Often these chemicals contain fertilizers which are extremely hazardous, potentially fatal, to your pet.  For some reason, pets are intrigued by electrical cords.  Chewing on live electrical cords (that means plugged in) can cause burns in your pet's mouth and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).  If your pets are particularly interested in the cords around your Christmas tree, you can feed them through a piece of PVC pipe.  Equally as dangerous are the candles used during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.  Pets who are unfamiliar with candles may find the flame intriguing and try to play with it.  This can cause severe burns.

Gifts
Remember that dogs and cats have pretty powerful sniffers.  If you are giving a gift that might smell enticing to your pets, restrict their access.  They will feel free to help themselves if given the chance.  Also, be careful with wrapping.  Just like tinsel, ribbons and bows can severly damage your pet's gastrointestinal tract. 

I hope you and your four-leggers have a wonderful holiday season filled with the blessings of good company, good food, and lots of love.

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