10 Holiday Tips for Pet Owners
Adapted from The OVMA Website
1. Pets as Gifts
Consider seriously the choice to give a pet as a gift. One of the main reasons animals are abandoned or taken to shelters is because they are unwanted. Don’t contribute to this situation by giving a pet to someone who may not want it or will be unable to care for it. If you do choose to give a pet as a gift, allow the recipient(s) to select the pet.
2. Food, Chocolate & Treats
Keep holiday treats and candies out of your pet’s reach as they can make your pet sick. Candy wrappers can cause digestive upset if eaten. Potentially harmful foods include: coffee grounds, chocolate, tea, alcohol, hops, salt, onions and onion powder, grapes and raisins, avocado, garlic, and macadamia nuts.
Chocolate, particularly unsweetened, dark, bittersweet and baking chocolate, can be toxic to pets, especially dogs, who are more prone to eat it. If your dog eats chocolate, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately. Symptoms of toxicity include excitement, nervousness, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, muscle spasms and seizures.
Keep gum, candy, and breath fresheners containing the sweetener Xylitol away from your dog. When a dog eats even a small amount of Xylitol, it causes a surge of insulin, and the animal’s blood sugar may drop quickly, causing the pet to go into hypoglycemic shock. Cases of liver damage have also been associated with ingestion of Xylitol. If your dog ingests Xylitol, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately.
3. Leftovers
Don’t feed your pet holiday turkey or chicken bones: the small bones or fragments can lodge in the throat, stomach, or intestinal tract. Fatty leftovers such as turkey skin can trigger inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a life threatening disease. At the very least, too much human food may give your pet an upset stomach and cause harmful diarrhea. Ask your guests to refrain from feeding your dog their table scraps or other treats without your permission.
4. Guests
Pets can become overexcited, confused or frightened by holiday guests. Keep pets in a quiet part of the house. When guests are over, pets can escape from your house or yard through gates and doors that are left open. Make sure your pets have ID tags and/or microchips in case they do get out. Remind your guests that your normally friendly pet may want to be left alone.
5. Christmas Tree
Make sure your tree is well secured, because both cats and dogs can cause the tree to topple over. Avoid adding preservatives, aspirin or sugar to your tree’s water. These can be hazardous to your pet’s health if ingested.
6. Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations such as breakable ornaments and dreidels should be kept out of reach of pets, as should tinsel, string, and ribbon. If your pet ingests any of these items, he or she could experience serious internal injuries. Light strands, loose wires and electric cords can be a serious hazard to your pet, especially puppies, who may chew on them.
7. Plants
Mistletoe and holly are poisonous and should be kept out of reach of pets. If eaten, poinsettia plants can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.
8. Candles
Never leave candles unattended, especially around puppies and kittens, who could knock burning candles over, causing harm to themselves and a fire hazard to your home.
9. Stress
The holidays can be stressful time for everyone, even your pets. Even though your routine might change, try to keep your pets on their normal feeding and exercise routine.
10. New Years Eve
Loud celebrations, new people in the house, and fireworks can all be frightening to your pet. Keep all of your pets confined during this potentially stressful time. Talk with your veterinarian before the holidays if your pets become excessively anxious during the holiday season for treatment options.
1. Pets as Gifts
Consider seriously the choice to give a pet as a gift. One of the main reasons animals are abandoned or taken to shelters is because they are unwanted. Don’t contribute to this situation by giving a pet to someone who may not want it or will be unable to care for it. If you do choose to give a pet as a gift, allow the recipient(s) to select the pet.
2. Food, Chocolate & Treats
Keep holiday treats and candies out of your pet’s reach as they can make your pet sick. Candy wrappers can cause digestive upset if eaten. Potentially harmful foods include: coffee grounds, chocolate, tea, alcohol, hops, salt, onions and onion powder, grapes and raisins, avocado, garlic, and macadamia nuts.
Chocolate, particularly unsweetened, dark, bittersweet and baking chocolate, can be toxic to pets, especially dogs, who are more prone to eat it. If your dog eats chocolate, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately. Symptoms of toxicity include excitement, nervousness, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, muscle spasms and seizures.
Keep gum, candy, and breath fresheners containing the sweetener Xylitol away from your dog. When a dog eats even a small amount of Xylitol, it causes a surge of insulin, and the animal’s blood sugar may drop quickly, causing the pet to go into hypoglycemic shock. Cases of liver damage have also been associated with ingestion of Xylitol. If your dog ingests Xylitol, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately.
3. Leftovers
Don’t feed your pet holiday turkey or chicken bones: the small bones or fragments can lodge in the throat, stomach, or intestinal tract. Fatty leftovers such as turkey skin can trigger inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a life threatening disease. At the very least, too much human food may give your pet an upset stomach and cause harmful diarrhea. Ask your guests to refrain from feeding your dog their table scraps or other treats without your permission.
4. Guests
Pets can become overexcited, confused or frightened by holiday guests. Keep pets in a quiet part of the house. When guests are over, pets can escape from your house or yard through gates and doors that are left open. Make sure your pets have ID tags and/or microchips in case they do get out. Remind your guests that your normally friendly pet may want to be left alone.
5. Christmas Tree
Make sure your tree is well secured, because both cats and dogs can cause the tree to topple over. Avoid adding preservatives, aspirin or sugar to your tree’s water. These can be hazardous to your pet’s health if ingested.
6. Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations such as breakable ornaments and dreidels should be kept out of reach of pets, as should tinsel, string, and ribbon. If your pet ingests any of these items, he or she could experience serious internal injuries. Light strands, loose wires and electric cords can be a serious hazard to your pet, especially puppies, who may chew on them.
7. Plants
Mistletoe and holly are poisonous and should be kept out of reach of pets. If eaten, poinsettia plants can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.
8. Candles
Never leave candles unattended, especially around puppies and kittens, who could knock burning candles over, causing harm to themselves and a fire hazard to your home.
9. Stress
The holidays can be stressful time for everyone, even your pets. Even though your routine might change, try to keep your pets on their normal feeding and exercise routine.
10. New Years Eve
Loud celebrations, new people in the house, and fireworks can all be frightening to your pet. Keep all of your pets confined during this potentially stressful time. Talk with your veterinarian before the holidays if your pets become excessively anxious during the holiday season for treatment options.
posted by Alpine Vet Tech at
9:56 AM
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