The Safety of Your Pet

Holidays bring lights, decorations, and good food. What we see as beautiful and harmless to us, can actually kill our pets, or put them in severe distress. Don`t let an emergency room visit with your canine/feline companion ruin your get togethers. If you know what is harmful, you can avoid mishaps.

Theses foodstuffs can be toxic to pets: chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, garlic, onion, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, bread dough, and sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.

Never, ever give cooked bones to dogs. They splinter easily and can puncture the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or get stuck in their throat. If you are a bone giver, make them raw. Another rule of thumb to follow is to make sure the bone is big enough for the breed of dog. A chicken neck or wing is fine for a small dog, but you wouldn`t want to give it to a big dog because it`s too small. When I fed my dogs a raw food diet, my Golden Retriever Diva, got turkey necks and wings. My vet discourages those hard, white bones because they can break teeth and those 'Greenies' get quite slimy and can slide down the throat and get impacted. Always supervise your animals with bones, and don`t forget, some cats like raw bones as well.

Take it easy with treats. They can also give stomach distress because of the richness or a possible new ingredient your pet hasn`t had before. As with humans, some animals have a 'stomach of steel' while others systems are somewhat touchy. Give treats one at a time so you can pinpoint the cause if your furbaby does get an upset tummy. They also will put weight on your pet pretty quickly so be careful. As for toys, look for pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed, and watch out for sharp edges.

The following plants are poisonous to your pet: mistletoe, some evergreens (including some types of pine), holly bushes and holly berries. Keep your pet away from these plants.

Some animals, for whatever reason, like to chew on electrical cords. I had a cat that chewed through two of my MAC power cords, I think he saw the dangling wire as a toy. There are probably more cords around since you`ve decorated your tree with lights, so try and keep the cords out of reach of curious, playful pets. The same holds true for tinsel, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, and garland.

Our fireplace is the preferred spot for Fred, my Papillon. First thing he does after coming inside is to hop onto the mantel and sit, facing the fire, warming himself. It is screened so there`s no chance of him catching fire so I don`t have to worry there. Make sure your fluke is open and adequate ventilation is provided for wood-burning stoves. Be careful with candles, and portable heaters. Also, don't forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Please don`t leave your pet in a started vehicle in the garage unattended. Carbon monoxide isn`t good for them either.

My dogs don`t mess with my tree; they never have, I`m a lucky one. Some like to eat the needles and pull off the ornaments. Monitor your pets when they are around your Christmas tree. If you have a live tree some pets try and drink the water from the bottom which can be toxic, especially if you use one of those common tree preservatives on the market.

Many times the symptoms are the same for your animal that they are for yourself when you`ve eaten something that your body doesn`t agree with. Tiredness, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea are common signs of gastrointestinal distress. If your pet shows any of these signs, or if you think he or she has eaten something dangerous but is not showing any signs yet, please call your vet right away. Treating your pet as soon as possible is essential!