During the holiday season, we are here to offer a list of the most common holiday pet hazards. They include, but are not limited to, feeding problems, foreign body ingestion and poisoning that occurs by accident.
Food Related Items:
Common gifts such as chocolate, tea, and gum can cause serious toxicities (liver damage, seizures, even death) in cats and dogs. Rich, fatty foods, like gravy and grease can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration or even pancreatitis. Some of these conditions could require hospitalization. To be safe, keep food related presents in a safe storage area, put food away immediately, and pet-proof your garbage.
Poisonous Plants:
We enjoy making our homes look festive with plants, unfortunately many plants can be poisonous or irritating to pets. Some of these plants include Holly berries and leaves, Mistletoe, Poinsettas, and most Lillies. When decorating, place these plants well out of reach of your pets or limit their use.
Decorations and Wrapping:
Ribbons, yarn, and string can cause intestinal obstructions and bunching of the intestines along the length of the string. This can require surgery and can be fatal.
Christmas Tree:
Tree needles both real and fake can cause mouth irritation and may be toxic. Electrical cords from lights can cause shock, burns or even death. Unplug decorative lights when not home, use pet proof extension cords, and spray cords with bitter apple or chew stop. Glass ornaments can cause serious lacerations to the mouth, and hooks can become lodged in the mouth or further into the body if swallowed. Be sure to place these things well out of reach of all pets.
Holiday Traffic:
The flow of holiday guests provides an open door for escape. Be sure your pet is microchipped and has current ID tags. Give us a call to discuss HomeAgain microchipping!
Winter Hazards:
Cold weather and wind chill can threaten your pets life. Be aware of the conditions when taking your pet outside. Short-haired dogs may need a sweater to keep them warm. Salt on sidewalks can be irritating to pet paws, so it’s a good idea to wipe them with a wet wash cloth after being outside. Furthermore, warm vehicle engines can attract cats. Bang on your vehicle’s hood to scare away cats before you start your engine. Antifreeze tastes sweet to animals, but it is a deadly poison. Make sure your pet can’t access antifreeze around or under your car or in the garage.
Wishing you and your furry friends a safe & happy holiday season!
The staff at Deepwood Veterinary Clinic of Centreville, VA wish you and your pets the best of everything. Woof! 