PET TALK BY AMY SCHEIN, DVMHolidayPet Tips<strong>The</strong> holiday season is almost here and most of us are alreadyimagining those delicious family dinners, festive decorationsand gifts we will be sharing. <strong>The</strong> holidays can be fun for ourpets too, but they can be very hazardous if pet owners are not careful.Many of those very things that we enjoy can be dangerous and evendeadly to our furry friends. Pet owners need to be aware of the followingdangers so that the holiday season is safe for both the two- andfour-legged members of our households.We all love holiday decorations, but they can be deadly to animals.While it may seem like fun to watch our cats and dogs play with tinselor ribbons on packages, these items can be ingested and actually lodgein the animals’ intestines, causing them to bunch up. Small items suchas ornaments and toys are also attractive to animals and can lodge intheir gastrointestinal tracts. <strong>The</strong>se conditions require emergency surgeryto remove the foreign material and, if not caught in time, can befatal. Although tinsel is a beautiful decoration, it is best avoided inhouseholds with pets.Be especially careful with holiday lights. Animals sometimeschew on cords and can suffer electric shock or burns in their mouths.If pets play with holiday decorations, they can become entangled inwires or knock down trees. Holiday ornaments may look very interestingto eat or play with. Ornaments can break and shards of glasscan cause wounds and lacerations in animals as well as people in thehousehold.Candles are another potential risk. Animals may be attracted to thelight and shadows and may approach the candles and get burned. <strong>The</strong>ycan knock over candles, creating a fire hazard. Pets may be attracted tothe smell of scented candles and they can get burned or poisoned if theyingest these items. Make sure that candles are placed out of reach ofpets. An alternative is to use battery-operated flameless candles.Certain plants are also poisonous. Mistletoe is especially toxic, asare lilies, Christmas cactus, holly, cedar and pine. Poinsettias have abad reputation and, although they are generally not fatal if ingested byanimals, they can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If you have aChristmas tree, make sure your pets cannot drink out of the container,as the water can be toxic.Many people may not be aware of this, but the food and drinks thatwe enjoy so much at our holiday meals can make our pets very ill.Traditional Thanksgiving and holiday dinners are high in fat and protein.<strong>The</strong>y also may be spicy or salty. While sharing some of our mealmay seem like a way to show our pets love, this kind of love can landyour beloved pet in the hospital. As a result of eating holiday food,animals can have vomiting or diarrhea, or they may even develop pancreatitis,a potentially deadly disease, just by having a little taste of ourholiday meal. <strong>The</strong> smells of our food can be so enticing that our petsmay even raid the garbage can and ingest bones or other material,which can lodge in their throats or cause gastroenteritis or obstruction.Additionally, some types of food can be poisonous to animals.Chocolate, coffee grounds, alcoholic beverages, macadamia nuts,onions, grapes and raisins are some of the foods that can be potentiallyfatal if ingested. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in mints, gums,candy and baked goods, can lead to liver failure and death if ingested.Animals can smell the foods even in gift packaging and are attracted tothem, so it is important not to leave gifts containing food under aChristmas tree.When guests are coming over, it is important to remind them ofhouse rules, so that they don’t inadvertently give your pet somethingdangerous. Many pets are shy and suffer anxiety when there is achange in routine. Pets can escape and become lost if the door isopened multiple times. It may be best for your dog or cat to have aquiet, safe private place to stay during parties.In case of emergency, contact your veterinarian. It is important toalso keep handy the phone numbers for a local emergency clinic andthe Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435). If you are concernedthat your pet has ingested something toxic and your veterinarian’soffice is closed, the center is open 24 hours a day.Dr. Amy Schein is a partner in the Coral Springs Pet Resort and MedicalCenter, 11555 West Sample Road.<strong>The</strong> telephone is 954-341-4123.106 DECEMBER 2010
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