The holiday season is magical time however can pose many dangers to our pets.
Each year during the holiday season, thousands of pets are seriously
injured and/or become deathly ill. It's a busy time ... a time of much
planning, shopping, cooking and baking, rushing to and from parties and
get-togethers with relatives and friends. Oftentimes we forget about our little
four-legged members of the family during the rush and festivities. They are
curious and anxious and there are many hazards
waiting for their curiosity:
v Pets
are attracted to the bright lights of candles in a darkened room. An excited
wagging tail can easily knock candles over, causing serious burns to your pet
and can turn into a fire hazard if spilled on to furniture or carpet. Always
supervise lit candles and keep in high places out of your pets' reach.
v Decorations
should be carefully placed so that the pets can't pull or scratch off any small
pieces to swallow and choke on.
v Cover
or tack down electrical cords. Pets like to chew on these, so inspect cords
often and try not to allow your pet into areas in the house where there are
electrical cords at their level.
v Don't
use tinsel! Although tinsel itself is not toxic, if ingested, intestinal
obstruction and choking are potential problems (it isn't pretty, and requires
surgery to remove). It's just too tempting to pets so don't put it on your
tree.
v A
number of Christmas season plants are poisonous to pets if eaten: ivy, holly
(berries and leaves), mistletoe, balsam, juniper, cedar, pine and fir tree
needles, and poinsettias. All of these can cause stomach upset, at the very
least and possibly vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Keep these plants out of your
pets' and children's reach.
v Small
amounts of chocolate can prove toxic to pets. Keep chocolate wrapped and stored
out of your pets' reach.
v Breakable
tree ornaments placed low enough to be batted off the tree and broken, can
cause cuts to paw pads or become imbedded in the pad and infected. Place these
ornaments high up on the tree or don't use them at all.
v Cats
and dogs love the sweet taste of antifreeze and even a tablespoon can prove
fatal. While you may be using non-toxic antifreeze, you don't know what your
guests may use in their cars. Be careful as many animals are lost each year
because of the lure of antifreeze.
v BONES
ARE DANGEROUS! Please don't feed your pets bones, especially poultry (turkey)
bones. Poultry bones splinter easily - each year thousands of pets are treated
for consumption of splintered bones, causing pain and even death.
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