Old Lyme Vets Provide Holiday Pet Safety Guidelines

Information via Old Lyme Veterinary Hospital

OLD LYME, CT — Dr. Neil Marrinan and Dr. Alice Marrinan of Old Lyme Veterinary Hospital, want your holidays to be filled with peace and not an emergency visit to your veterinarian. The holiday safety guidelines, provided by the ASPCA, help ensure that your pet family members are safe during this time of year.

Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations

• Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. .
• Avoid Mistletoe & Holly: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for a pet-safe bouquet.
• Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" . But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery.
• Wired Up: Please inspect where wires are placed. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus.

Avoid Holiday Food Dangers

• NO SWEETS: Do Not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol. Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.
• Careful with Cocktails: If your celebration includes alcohol holiday beverages, beware if ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
• Special Treats: Great stocking stuffers are chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer.

Plan a Pet-Safe Holiday Gathering

• Put the Meds Away: Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and their suitcases closed!
• A Room of Their Own: Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room .
• New Year's Noise: As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. And remember that many pets are also scared of fireworks, so be sure to secure them in a safe, escape-proof area as midnight approaches.