Holiday Tips

We all love to give our pets a taste of our holiday dinner, it is important to make sure that you (and your guests) don't allow your pet to overindulge. There are some hazards that we should all be mindful of.

• Too much rich food can not only upset your pet's stomach but can lead to a more serious condition called pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

• Be careful with bones from the holiday dinner.  Please don't give them to your pet as a treat and ensure your pet can't get into the garbage either.  These bones can not only upset your pet's stomach but can also get stuck in your pet's throat or intestines leading to a life threatening situation.

• Avoid turkey stuffing that may contain lots of onions. This can cause anemia in dogs.

• Baking chocolate, caffeine or alcohol can be toxic and create serious health issues for your pet.

• One common cause of intestinal obstructions are baking or roasting strings. Dispose of them carefully because they are often dripping with appetizing flavors and create great temptation for pets.

• Please feed your pet before your guests arrive to reduce begging.

• If you choose to keep your pet away from the Holiday table by putting them in the garage, make sure that you pet proof your garage first.  Common items found in the garage that can cause harm to your pet include rat poison , anti-freeze, fertilizer, weed killers and garbage.

Decorations are a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.  Although they are beautiful to look at and fill us with cheer, if not handled or hung carefully they could pose a threat to our pets.  Tinsel, ribbon and ornaments can be ingested and cause an unexpected trip to the vet during the holidays.  Hang those decorations up high enough to be out of the reach of curious pets.

Holiday plants such as poinsettias can also be toxic and should be placed in such a way as to beautify the home and yet still be out of the reach of any pet.

Flickering and glittering lights would also stimulate curiosity for both cats and dogs, their ability to reach them should be taken into consideration when they are being hung. Pets biting into electric extension chords can result in serious injury and they should be hidden as much as possible in order to protect your pets from adversity.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!  Enjoy!