Lisa
12-12-2005, 09:15 PM
Holiday Pet Hazards
While you are busy making your festive plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, please don't forget to include your Doxie(s). The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with your little best friends. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make 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, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract.
Fat: poultry skin, gravies and deep fried foods can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well.
Holiday plants: Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. Poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause severe gastric distress. Keep the plants out of your dog’s reach.
Electrical cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles: Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is even more important if left at puppy's chewing zone (or a dog knock zone, such as a coffee table). 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 trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough.
Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets, so be sure it is inaccessible or not used. 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 intestines or ball up in the stomach.
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 under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog 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.
Before traveling with your pets, make sure they have all required vaccinations and health papers. If they are on medications, have enough to last through the trip (and a few extra days incase of travel delays).
When traveling by air, be aware of airline restrictions regarding outside temperature and number of animals allowed per flight. Someone may have already booked a pet, and there are no more allowed. Check with the airline reservations or travel agent.
While you are busy making your festive plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, please don't forget to include your Doxie(s). The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with your little best friends. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make 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, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract.
Fat: poultry skin, gravies and deep fried foods can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well.
Holiday plants: Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. Poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause severe gastric distress. Keep the plants out of your dog’s reach.
Electrical cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles: Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is even more important if left at puppy's chewing zone (or a dog knock zone, such as a coffee table). 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 trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough.
Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets, so be sure it is inaccessible or not used. 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 intestines or ball up in the stomach.
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 under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog 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.
Before traveling with your pets, make sure they have all required vaccinations and health papers. If they are on medications, have enough to last through the trip (and a few extra days incase of travel delays).
When traveling by air, be aware of airline restrictions regarding outside temperature and number of animals allowed per flight. Someone may have already booked a pet, and there are no more allowed. Check with the airline reservations or travel agent.