Monroe Pet Owners: Beware of Top 10 Holiday Dangers for Pets

By Joan Eve Quinn (Open Post)

While the holiday season can bring great cheer, it can also be a stressful and dangerous time for pets. The experts at Newtown Veterinary Specialists present 10 hazards pets face during the holidays. We offer proven tips for keeping beloved animal companions safe and happy while we celebrate this joyful season.

• Danger #1: Poinsettias. Ingestion of these plants typically results in mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Safety Tip: Keep poinsettias well out of the reach of pets. Even better, re-gift them to friends without pets or don’t buy them at all, lovely as they may look.

• Danger #2: Ribbons and tinsel. Although they look pretty on gift packages and trees, these items can become caught under the tongue or within the stomach and can cause a linear foreign body obstruction. This may result in intestinal perforation, sepsis and life threatening illness.

Safety Tip: Skip the ribbon and tinsel. The colorful look isn’t worth the possible health risks to pets.

• Danger #3: Macadamia nuts. It’s unknown why macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Typical clinical signs include vomiting, incoordination and severe hind limb weakness with occasional tremoring. The prognosis for macadamia nut ingestion is good with clinical signs resolving within 24 to 48 hours.

Safety Tip: Choose other nut varieties to grace your decorative table, but keep all nuts away from pets.

• Danger #4: Christmas tree “preservers.” Sometimes people add preservatives to Christmas tree water that may contain fertilizers, chemicals or medications (aspirin). Some of these preservatives are poisonous while others can cause oral (mouth) ulceration and stomach upset. Also, stagnant tree water can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea.

Safety Tip: One way to help avoid this harm is to cover the tree water dish fully and securely.

• Danger #5: Lights and extension cords. Pets, especially puppies and kittens, often try to chew them and may get badly burned, shocked or electrocuted.

Safety Tip: Position lights and extension cords so pets can’t easily reach them. Cover cords and wires within reach with flexible plastic tubing that can be bought inexpensively at most hardware stores.

• Danger #6: Ornaments. Metal hooks and glass bulbs can become lodged in the mouth, esophagus or gastrointestinal tract. Also, edible ornaments on the tree may be an irresistible temptation for some pets resulting in accidental ingestion as well as pulling down an improperly secured tree.

Safety Tip: Firstly, secure your tree well. Avoid using edible ornaments. Metal hooks and glass bulbs shouldn’t be placed on lower tree branches where pets can reach them easily. Be very careful not to drop any metal hooks on the floor while trimming your tree. Check carefully for any such items you may have left behind.

• Danger #7: Candles. If left unattended, scented candles and Menorahs can pose many problems for your pets and home.

Safety Tip: If you feel that you must use candles, they should never be left unattended.

• Danger #8: Batteries. Ingestion can result in a foreign body obstruction as well as corrosive injury to the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.

Safety Tip: It’s hard to avoid using batteries at this time of year. Be very careful not to leave them lying around, especially the smaller-sized batteries.

• Danger #9: Raw yeast dough and spiked eggnog. Ingestion results in acute alcohol toxicity. This results in stuporous mentation, ataxia, abdominal pain, respiratory depression and, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest.

Safety Tip: It can be easy to miss curious pets’ sneaky moves while we’re busy baking or entertaining. Keep an eye on the eggnog and the dough as well.

• Danger #10: Chocolate. Different types of chocolate contain various levels of caffeine, fat and methylxanthines. It is the methylxanthines that are toxic to dogs and cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias, tremors and seizures.

Safety Tip: Keep the chocolate stored away in a safe place that our furry friends cannot access.

This list is by no means exhaustive. While there are many more risks, these 10 are among the most common. If your pet runs into trouble during the holidays, Newtown Veterinary Specialists is staffed 24-hours-a-day with highly trained emergency veterinarians and a dedicated, caring support staff. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. We’ll be available every day this month at 203-270-VETS (8387). When in doubt we always advise: If you’re concerned enough to call us, it’s probably best to bring your pet in to see us–better safe than sorry.

For more information on our Emergency Service visit http://www.newtownvets.com/service/emergency/

We wish a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season to all our friends and fans, including those loveable four-legged furry ones!

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