Holiday Hazards

While you are busy making your plans for Christmas, please don’t forget to include your pets.  The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things that you should not share with your little furry friends.  Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make the holidays a happy time for everyone. 

Some of the more common holiday hazards include:

BONES:  The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don’t feed them to your pet.  Beware of steak bones as well.  Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach and intestinal tract.

FAT:  Those wonderful potato latkes (watch the hot oil!), gravies and potato skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well.

HOLIDAY PLANTS:  Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten.  The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky sap and leaves can certainly cause distress.  With so many hybrid varieties available each year, the best approach is to keep the plants out of your pet’s reach.

CANDLES:  Lighted candles should never be left unattended.  This is even more important if left at kitties’ eye level or within puppies chewing zone.  An exuberant tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous.  Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.

PINE NEEDLES:  Check around holiday boughs and trees frequently.

Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet’s intestines if sharp enough.

CHRISTMAS TREE:  Make sure your tree is well secured.  If you have a tree-climbing cat or a large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall using strong cord or rope.  Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets, so be sure to make it inaccessible or don’t use them at all.  Avoid sugar and aspirin additives in the water as well.

ORNAMENTS:  Sharp or breakable ornaments, dreidels and even aluminum foil should be kept out of reach.  String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons, are to be safeguarded at all costs.  They are thin and sharp and can wrap around the intestines or ball up in the stomach if ingested.

STRESS AND COMPANY:  With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets.  Make sure your pets have collars and tags on in case of escape.  Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets underfoot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people.  Provide a special, quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful. 

ELECTRICAL CORDS:  Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew.  Be sure to secure your cords out of the way.

CHOCOLATE DANGERS: Theobromine, a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the cocoa bean, can be harmful even in small amounts.  Theobromine can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets.  Larger doses can be fatal.  The lethal dose of theobromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate.  Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has 6 to 9 times as much theobromine as milk chocolate.

Estimates of the smallest amounts that can be fatal are:

4 – 10 ozs. of milk chocolate or ½ - 1 oz. of baking chocolate for small dogs

(including Chihuahuas or toy poodles).

1 – 1 ½  lbs. of milk chocolate or 2-3 ozs.  of baking chocolate for medium sized dogs

(including cocker spaniels and bulldogs).

2 – 4 ½  lbs. of milk chocolate or 4 – 8 ozs. of  baking chocolate for large dogs

(including collies, labs, and retrievers).

See your veterinarian immediately if some of these signs are noticed:

·         Restlessness

·         Hyper, excitable

·         Vomiting or diarrhea

·         Seizures

·         Muscle spasms

ANTIFREEZE:  During the colder months, a routine automotive practice is to use antifreeze in your radiator or windshield washer fluid.  Antifreeze is sweet tasting to your pet and they may be tempted to drink it.  Antifreeze is extremely toxic and often fatal to pets when ingested.  Even a small puddle spilled on your driveway  is of concern

TYLENOL (acetaminophen): Tylenol is toxic to cats and can be hazardous to dogs, therefore if your pet is not feeling well over the holiday season, please contact your veterinarian before giving any medications to your pet.

OUTDOOR DOGS:  Please realize that the nutritional requirements for an outdoor dog are a lot higher than for an indoor dog, especially during the colder months.  If concerned, please consult your veterinarian regarding the dietary changes required for your pet.  Shelter during the winter months is especially important.  Your pet will require a well insulated dog house, raised off the ground, with the entrance facing away from the prevailing wind.  The shelter should be just large enough for your pet to lie down comfortably.  Ensure that the water supply is checked regularly as it may freeze.