Happy Holidays
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Merry Christmas
1. Candies and Chocolates- We love them and so do our pets. Their GI tracts can’t handle them the the same way as ours, and chocolate can be poisonous. So keep the treats out of reach.
2. Tinsel, ribbons and strings- Adds beauty to trees and packages, but can be deadly to our pets. Swallowing these can lead to tongue lacerations, linear foreign bodies (that then need surgical removal) and potentially death. As alternatives, try “sparkley” larger ornaments on the tree and hand decorated gift tags on boxes (paper usually isn’t a problem).
3. Electrical cords (in new places)- Those extension cords, so very needed for our Christmas lights, represent a new and interesting “snake-toy.” Very bad!!! Try covering cords with painters tape or throw rugs to keep them out of sight.
4. Christmas Tree water resevoir- Okay, so you thought water was harmless. Not if you use tree preservative added in (or aspirin if you’re old school). Both of these things can be very toxic, especially to cats. Remember too- flocking (or snow covering) on trees is also toxic.
5. Small ornaments and toys- Remember, small shiny items are very attractive to dogs and cats. Small parts can be ingested and very often get stuck. This means surgery- so stick to larger, non-breakable ornaments, and try to keep the lower branches sparse.
6. Tasty Holiday Dinner- A taste for your pet is fine (avoid the onions, raisins, and high fat), but keep portions to just a taste.
7. Guests/Family- It’s great to have your loved ones visiting and of course they love our pets, too, but our pets are curious about new people and things- so keep those guest room doors closed. That way their possesions stay safe and so do your pets.
Lastly- the fat man in the red suit can start a fire and steal your pets- keep your eyes peeled!!!!
Happy Holidays from Debbie, Dr. Ernest, Charlene and , of course, Cami the Supermodel!!!
