FIVE IMPORTANT WAYS TO GIVE YOUR PET A SAFE & HEALTHY HOLIDAY

FIVE IMPORTANT WAYS TO GIVE YOUR PET A SAFE & HEALTHY HOLIDAY

Hello Everyone and Welcome back to another Health and #Wellness Wednesday! It’s that time of year again. December. A holiday month filled with Fun, Food and Festivities.  But, in the midst of all our merry-making, let’s not overlook our four-legged friends — their needs and their safety.

Our pets are such important parts of our lives. Studies have shown their presence creates balance, harmony and peace of mind. They help decrease depression, lower blood pressure and boost our immune systems. Pets are our allies when fighting disease and illness showering us with unconditional love. I know. I’ve had two beloved Labrador Retrievers — Lady helped me through my first cancer — and Angel has helped me through my second and third. So, let’s make sure all our pets stay safe and healthy this Holiday Season!

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s get started:

1) THE CHRISTMAS TREE: One of the most common traditions of the season for many — the Christmas tree. And really, who doesn’t enjoy inhaling the fresh smell and basking in the beauty of its twinkling lights and ornaments at this time of year?? So, what can we do to make our tree pet-friendly as well? Try these tips:

• Place tinsel and shiny, glass ornaments high up on the tree. If it’s more out of sight, it’s more out of mind.
• Ornaments on the bottom third of your tree should be sturdy and shatterproof.
• If necessary, use fishing line to tie your tree to the wall. It’s much less likely to fall over.
• Make sure all electrical cords and lights are placed deep within the tree — and make sure cords on the floor are covered or taped down. Nothing tempts more than dangling or loose wires. And, use a grounded three-prong extension cord for added protection.
• Pets often drink the water used for keeping your tree fresh. So, make sure the water is replaced regularly and don’t use any additives in it that could harm your pet.
• Place something under your tree that pets don’t like to walk on. For example, try surrounding the base with aluminum foil to keep an inquisitive cat away. Cats don’t like to walk on things that “crackle.” Or, try placing one of those rubber office mats with tiny spikes around your tree. Your dog will find it uncomfortable and unfriendly to sensitive paws.
• How about a scented pet repellent? Scents that most humans like and most pets don’t include clove or citrus oil. Or, perhaps bitter apple? Just spray your tree before decorating — but, avoid spraying anything on the lights.
• And, for pets who really like to exercise their climbing skills, try placing plant netting on the underside of the tree.

2) HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: Yes, they’re pretty to look at or lovely to smell. But, be sure to keep these baubles and holiday staples out of your pet’s reach:

• Bubble lights. We use them to decorate indoors and out. But, they contain methylene chloride, which can be harmful if ingested or spilled on the skin – or fur.
• We all love snow globes, of course. And, they are so common in decorative holiday landscapes. But, they too may contain ethylene glycol – or as we know it, antifreeze. This highly poisonous substance, which also has a sweet smell and taste that can be attractive to cats and dogs, must be kept away from all pets.
• Scented Oils are a wonderful way to make your home feel welcome and smell wonderful. Their great scent, however, also may attract curious pets. And, these products often contain ingredients that may prove harmful if swallowed or dangerous if spilled.
• Potpourri and incense also add to a home’s holiday atmosphere. Yet, they also often contain preservatives, plants or chemicals that can harm family pets.
• And, let’s not forget Scented Candles. While the flame may be a natural and instinctive repellent, the attractive scent may prove too strong for curious pets. The candle wax and additives alone may be harmful. Pets can not only burn themselves but they can create a fire hazard as well if a candle is knocked over — scented or unscented.

3) PRESENTS: Again, even our gifts can create an attractive nuisance.  So, take the following measures to protect your pets:

• Don’t dress your pet up with cute ribbons from your gifts. The ribbon can get wrapped around your pet’s neck and create a choking hazard.
• Similarly, don’t let your pet chew on discarded ribbons. If swallowed, ribbons can create an additional choking hazard and harm the intestinal tract.
• Remnants of wrapping paper – especially ones with glitter or foil – may contain substances like glue or shellac that may be harmful to your pet. So, just like ribbons, don’t let your pet play with or chew on any of these materials. Just make sure to put all the trash in the trash as soon as the gifts are opened.

4) FOOD:  Now, this is a big category. Our houses are usually filled with holiday treats at this time of year. But, here’s a road map to some of the most unfriendly pet foods of the season:

• First up is chocolate. We may love it. Our pets may think they love it. But, the theobromine and caffeine in chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. In general, the darker and richer the chocolate, the greater the level of toxicity. Depending upon the type and amount of chocolate ingested, our pets may experience diarrhea, vomiting and even seizures.
• Bones – poultry and otherwise. I know it seems natural to “give a dog a bone.” But, bones left over from cooking can become dehydrated and brittle. They can splinter and cause choking or internal lacerations.
• Fat trimmings – ditto. Not good for pets. Whether the fat is cooked or uncooked it can be especially harmful for dogs causing painful pancreatitis. And, cats and dogs alike have difficulty digesting fat. So, avoid problems by discarding leftover fat – which includes leftover turkey and chicken skin as well.
• In a nutshell – nuts. It seems so harmless to share a peanut or two with a begging dog or a curious cat. But, nuts again are rich in fat, which can lead to pancreatitis. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are all no-nos. And, macadamia nuts in particular, may contain an unknown toxin that can result in neurological damage.
• Onions and garlic make our list as well. Both contain thiosulphate, which can cause red blood cells to rupture in cats and dogs leading to hemolytic anemia. Onions are the worst. Garlic, on the other hand, remains questionable as small amounts may offer some health benefits. I always say, “When in doubt, leave it out.”
• Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Of the two, raisins pose the greater threat as small amounts of this fruit can be fatal for both cats and dogs. Just keep Grandmother’s fruitcake out of reach – stored away – with all the other fruitcakes from the last twenty years 🙂
• The holidays mean lots of baking will be taking place. Great! But, keep the dough with yeast away from your pet. You see, the stomach of our furry friends makes the perfect place for dough to rise. Raw dough ingested by cats and dogs can result in painful bloating, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• We all know what too much alcohol can do to us! But, alcohol actually is much more toxic to pets than to people. And, remember many holiday drinks have lots of fruit, spices and other great smelling things in them that pets may find hard to resist. So, don’t leave drinks sitting on the coffee table where inquisitive feline and canine noses can find them.
• And lastly, that wonderful holiday spice that’s so good for us – nutmeg – is on the list. Yep – this spice is particularly toxic for pets. Its mild hallucinogenic properties can harm delicate central nervous systems and cause tremors or seizures. So, if you feed your pet sweet potatoes or pumpkin – both of which are very beneficial in and of themselves – make sure there’s no nutmeg in the recipe.

5) HOLIDAY PLANTS: Yes, they are pretty. And, they make the house look so inviting. But, many seasonal plants can be harmful or even lethal for pets. Among the culprits we have:

• Holly. Found everywhere this time of year, holly leaves and berries contain chemicals such as ilicin, saponins and methylxanthines. Toxic to both cats and dogs these chemicals can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even depression.
• Another holiday favorite, mistletoe, contains multiple substances, including toxalbumin and pharatoxin viscumin that also are toxic to cats and dogs. If ingested by your pet, mistletoe can cause severe intestinal upset, a severe drop in blood pressure and respiratory problems. So, if you do have this plant in the house, just make sure to hang it high where it can be safely used for its intended purpose.
• Holiday flowers like lilies and amaryllis are hard to beat for beauty. But, looks can be deceiving and both are highly toxic to pets. Lilies in particular can have a severe impact on a cat’s intestinal tract. And amaryllis, which contain lycorine can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain in cats and dogs.
• They are, perhaps, the most common and recognizable of the holiday plants – poinsettias. Found in white, pink and flaming red colors, this plant is not exactly poisonous to pets — but the leaves contain a sap that is irritating to the tissues of the mouth and esophagus. The sap also can cause vomiting and nausea. If a large amount of poinsettia leaves were to be ingested, poisoning might result. But, this is highly unlikely as the sap has an unpleasant taste and an irritating quality to it.
• Finally, the simple pine needle. The oils found in fir trees can produce oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. So, make sure to clean around your tree regularly and sweep up needles as they fall to the floor.

Well, there we have it. A list of the most common holiday hazards our pets face this season.  And remember, DO supply your cat or dog with lots of appropriate chew toys and pet treats throughout the holidays. DO take them for walks to dispel extra energy. And, DO provide them with a quiet “time out” place of their own where they can rest and calm down when needed.

In this way, every Fluffy and Fido this holiday can enjoy family festivities in a safe and healthy environment!

Thanks for joining me everyone. Until next time,

TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!

Thanks to www.daws.org for the adorable photo and for their work with pet adoptions throughout the year!