Pet Safety During the Holidays
The Velvet Snoot Pet Boutique has put together a few bits of information to insure a safe and happy holiday season.
Avoid Too Much People Food: An upset stomach can be a holiday buzz killer and with all the good food around, it's easy to overfeed our furry friends. Watch the amount of leftovers you give your pet, and remember- NO chicken or turkey bones, they can splinter and pierce the intestines causing painful damage including blockages. Any change of diet , even one meal, can give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. Carefully monitor the amount of "people food" you give your pet, knowing that greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause an upset stomach.
Use Caution With Alcohol: Alcohol causes serious damage to an animals liver and kidneys. If ingested, they can become sick and dehydrated quickly making you pet vulnerable to a coma, respiratory failure or even death. They don't process alcohol like we do.
NO Desert: Skip the sweets. Chocolate can be deadly, the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. 1 square of bakers chocolate can poison a dog. Candy containing xylitol = poison. Watch for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increase thirst or urination, abnormal heart rhythm or seizures if you even suspect your dog has gotten into the garbage or raided the pantry.
Holiday Flowers and Plants: Lillies, mistletoe, holly berries and poinsettia's are all potentially very dangerous, especially to cats. Commonly used Star Gazer, Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, and Casa Blanca Lillie's especially. Better to play it safe than be sorry. There are many ways to decorate a table without the use of risking the health of your pet.
Holiday Decorations: Make sure the Christmas Tree water is covered, it contains fertilizer that if ingested, could cause painful damage to your thirsty or curious dog or cat. Things to consider while decorating your tree are eliminating the use of tinsel or ribbons, if swallowed they can get tangled in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction, a very common problem with cats around the holiday season. Keep a close eye on glass ornaments, placing them securely out of reach from your pets. Exposed wires can deliver a deadly electrical shock, take care and use as much electrical tape as you need to be safe.
Candles Can Be Like Playing With Fire: Candles can be knocked over by cats, and need to be kept out of reach of dogs. Make sure your candles are placed on a sturdy surface that can't easily be knocked over, pedestals are a bad place for lit candles.
As always, you should always have your Animal Emergency Clinic's phone number handy just in case. You can also contact the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Eat, drink & be merry, but have a safe and healthy holiday season.
Avoid Too Much People Food: An upset stomach can be a holiday buzz killer and with all the good food around, it's easy to overfeed our furry friends. Watch the amount of leftovers you give your pet, and remember- NO chicken or turkey bones, they can splinter and pierce the intestines causing painful damage including blockages. Any change of diet , even one meal, can give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. Carefully monitor the amount of "people food" you give your pet, knowing that greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause an upset stomach.
Use Caution With Alcohol: Alcohol causes serious damage to an animals liver and kidneys. If ingested, they can become sick and dehydrated quickly making you pet vulnerable to a coma, respiratory failure or even death. They don't process alcohol like we do.
NO Desert: Skip the sweets. Chocolate can be deadly, the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. 1 square of bakers chocolate can poison a dog. Candy containing xylitol = poison. Watch for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increase thirst or urination, abnormal heart rhythm or seizures if you even suspect your dog has gotten into the garbage or raided the pantry.
Holiday Flowers and Plants: Lillies, mistletoe, holly berries and poinsettia's are all potentially very dangerous, especially to cats. Commonly used Star Gazer, Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, and Casa Blanca Lillie's especially. Better to play it safe than be sorry. There are many ways to decorate a table without the use of risking the health of your pet.
Holiday Decorations: Make sure the Christmas Tree water is covered, it contains fertilizer that if ingested, could cause painful damage to your thirsty or curious dog or cat. Things to consider while decorating your tree are eliminating the use of tinsel or ribbons, if swallowed they can get tangled in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction, a very common problem with cats around the holiday season. Keep a close eye on glass ornaments, placing them securely out of reach from your pets. Exposed wires can deliver a deadly electrical shock, take care and use as much electrical tape as you need to be safe.
Candles Can Be Like Playing With Fire: Candles can be knocked over by cats, and need to be kept out of reach of dogs. Make sure your candles are placed on a sturdy surface that can't easily be knocked over, pedestals are a bad place for lit candles.
As always, you should always have your Animal Emergency Clinic's phone number handy just in case. You can also contact the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Eat, drink & be merry, but have a safe and healthy holiday season.
