Seven Tips To Make Sure Pets Enjoy The Holidays
As the holidays fast approach, it’s easy to forget our pets in the hustle and bustle.
But the holidays pose hazards for our furry friends. Luckily, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA) wants everyone to be aware of potential issues, so they have some tips to help everyone make it through the holidays unscathed.
1. Diet: While we humans may overindulge, it’s important to keep our pets on a normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, can give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. Also, don’t give pets holiday leftovers, and do keep them out of the garbage.
2. Watch the alcohol: Be sure to place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very sick and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
3. Skip sweets: Candies containing the sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs–even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination, seizures and even liver failure in certain cases. Also chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate, can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst and urination, as well as abnormal heart rate/rhythm and even seizures. Cats also love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
4. Forgo Flowers: Lilies (all varieties, including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca) can cause kidney failure in cats. In addition, common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be potentially toxic to pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could possibly suffer gastrointestinal upset and in rare cases, cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.
5. Watch Tree Water: Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers that, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria, and if ingested a pet could end up with abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.
6. Dangerous Decorations: Traditional decorations such as ribbons or tinsel, if ingested, can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction (a common problem, particularly with cats). Also watch access to glass ornaments, wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, such ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, while a wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock.
7. Careful With Candles: Animals can easily knock over holiday candles and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of getting burned by candle flames.
These tips should help ensure you and your pets have a happy holiday season.
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