Holiday Pet Safety

Tis the season...........

Up goes the Christmas trees, decorations and gifts. Many times both old and new pet owners are not aware of the danger they can pose to our pets, and even a seasoned pet owners must be conscious of new things brought into the home. What can you do to help keep your pets safe during the holiday season?

* Many holiday plants can lead to health problems in dogs and cats.

Among the plants to keep out of reach are holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies.

Pine needles can actually puncture holes in a pet's intestine.

* The Cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look inviting to chew. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries.

ALWAYS unplug lights when you are not home.

* Anchor Christmas trees with a string to keep it from falling.

* Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is poisonous to pets.

* Do not let pets drink the holiday tree water. Some may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria. Check labels for tree water preservatives and artificial snow, and buy only those that are nontoxic, your pets health or even life can be at risk.

* Pets, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach of pets.

* Keep other ornaments out of reach of pets. Ingestion of any ornament, which might look like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments. And remember, shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body.

* Small plastic pieces, twist wires, staples, styrofoam, candy wrappers, aluminium foil, ribbons, string, bubblewrap are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. Ingested plastic or cloth toys must often be removed surgically.

* Avoid toxic decorations. Bubbling lights contain fluid that can be inhaled or ingested, snow sprays and snow flock can cause reactions when inhaled, and water in snow scenes may contain toxic organisms such as Salmonella.

* Keep candles on high shelves. Use fireplace screens to avoid burns.

* Holiday activity can be very stressful and even frightening to pets, with people coming and going. It can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure pets have a safe place to retreat in your house. Always make sure they are wearing current I.D. in case they escape out a door when guests come and go.

* Reduce stress by keeping your pets on a regular schedule.

* Always make time to care for your pets. During these busy times pet owners spend less time walking their dogs, thus causing the pet to be frustrated and leading to nuisance complaints and even dog bite incidents. So enjoy the holidays but don't take a holiday from responsibly caring for your pets.

* When pets are stressed by holiday activity or during travel, they may require more water. Keep fresh water available for them to drink.

* Do not let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol, that can cause illnesses from vomiting and diarrhea and other toxic reactions.

* Keep pets away from the garbage. Use pet-proof containers.

* If you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian and/or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.

* If your pet ingests glass, broken plastic, staples or other small, sharp objects, call your veterinarian.