HOLIDAY HAZARDS to OUR PETS

Most people already know that chocolate can be toxic to your pet but did you know that there are manyother food items that can make your pet extremely ill and/or cause death. According to theNational Animal Poison ControlCenter the food items listed below should never be feed to and should be kept out of reach of your can pet.

Foods to Avoid Giving Your Pet

All chocolate, alcohol, avocado, coffee (all forms), fatty food, macadamia nuts, moldy or spoiled foods, onions and onion powder, raisins, grapes, salt, garlic, and items sweetened with xylitol (sugar substitute). When you give your pets foods that they are not use to it can cause intestinal inflammation which includes vomiting and diarrhea. These specific foods can cause a life threatening condition in your pet.

Holiday Plants to Avoid

Lilies (Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, and the Casa Blanca) can be deadly to cats. They can cause acute kidney failure.

Poinsettias if eaten by your pet can irritate the mouth and stomach; vomiting may occur. It's not the plant itself, but the sap from the plant that is the irritant.

Mistletoeif eaten can cause stomach upset and in some pets can have a toxic effect on the heart and blood vessels.

Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.

Christmas tree Hazards.

Don't let your pets drink from the Christmas tree stand. This water is stagnant and can contain high levels of causing vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.

Electrical cords should be kept from the reach of pets as well as children; if chewed your pet could be electrocuted.

Tinsel and ribbon if eaten can cause intestinal obstruction in our pets.

Our beautiful and treasured glass ornaments can cut the tissues in the intestinal tract if eaten and lord knows some pets will eat anything. On another note broken ornaments should be cleaned up immediately. While your pet may not eat them they could cut their paws on the broken glass.

Some everyday Hazards

Pets are like little garbage disposals; some will eat anything. Never leave medications where a pet can to them and ingest.

Anti-freeze if ingested or just liked from the garage floor can be deadly to your pet.

Like children pets need to be monitored, watch what they put in their mouths. Since accidents can happen always keep your vet's number and that of an emergency animal hospital close at hand. Everyone including our furry and feathered pets should enjoy the holidays without incident.