Top Five Holiday Hazards to Pets

Holiday and Winter Hazards

                Christmas is nearly upon us and Patton Veterinary Hospital wants you to enjoy the season safely along with your pets.  This week we talk about some holiday traditions that could potentially harm your pets. 

1.  Ribbon, tinsel and twine can all pose hazards for pets if they decide to ingest them.  String foreign bodies can damage the intestines.  Cats are especially attracted to these items, but dogs, birds or ferrets could be intrigued as well.  If your pet has string sticking out of his or her bottom, you can try gently pulling it out, but stop immediately and seek veterinary care if the string does not come easily, if there is any bleeding or if your pet is vomiting or not eating.
2. Glass ornaments look lovely on the tree, but could be problematic if they fall off and break.  Sharp glass could become embedded in paws or noses or be ingested.  Secure trees so they cannot be knocked over by curious cats or playful pooches block access to your tree or use unbreakable ornaments such as plastic or wood. 
3. Candles, cozy fireplaces and strands of lights provide sparkle and warm holiday glow to festivities, but make sure pets cannot knock over candles or chew strings of lights.  They may burn themselves, cause a fire, or be electrocuted.  Keep pets a safe distance from wood stoves or fireplaces, consider unplugging your tree or confining your pets when you are not home to supervise, and, obviously, never leave flames unattended.
4. Holiday foods such as chocolate, alcohol and rich table foods are a staple of celebrations this time of year, but they can wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive system and may even be toxic.  To avoid problems like vomiting, diarrhea and more serious issues like pancreatitis don’t share your ham dinner or Christmas cookies with your pets and never, ever let pets have alcohol. 
5. This last one is not specific to the holidays, but a recent addendum to Libre’s Law in Pennsylvania prohibits shelters, kennels and pet owners from leaving dogs outdoors for more than thirty minutes in temperatures 30F or below (or above 90F in the summer) without proper shelter.  So, by all means enjoy the snow with your dog, but don’t stay out too long if temperatures are below freezing.   Cats are not included in the law, but our feline friends may benefit from spending more time indoors if the weather is extremely cold as they, too, can be prone to frostbite on their ears or paws.

That wraps up our list of holiday hazards.  By the way, poinsettias have long been given a bad rap on holiday toxin lists, but they are really only a minor problem.  Don’t allow your pets to eat them as they can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but they are not deadly so don’t panic if your pet accidentally eats a leaf or two.  Holly and mistletoe are a different story, so don’t let your pets partake of these two plants if you are using real greens for the holidays. 

The vets and staff of PVH wish all of you a joyful and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Source for Libre's Law info:  http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/new-pa-law-intended-to-crack-down-on-pet-owners-leaving-their-animals-outside/859377265