Pets and Holiday Hazards

Our pets have a sense of the holiday excitement in the air just as we do, but holidays can pose new hazards for our pets. Awareness of the hazards is the first step to keeping our furry kids safe and free from harm. Young pets can really get curious about the Christmas tree and decorations. Both dogs and cats will find lots of interesting things to get into, even my sweet senior dog still loves to watch the tree being decorated! She makes her rounds to check out the decorations as they're coming out of the boxes, then finds a good spot for viewing everything. (Usually as close to the tree as she can get, or under it!) Even though my pets are beyond their energetic "childhoods," they still need to be watched during this exciting time of year. Some things prove too tempting to our pets, such as chocolates and even sweet smells. Others items are just enticing our pets to play with them. If your pets like plants, then the new poinsettia may tempt them. A little caution can go a long way to keep our pets safe during the holidays.

The Christmas tree can pose several new hazards for our pets, some are not so obvious threats. Young pets want to play all the time and they find ornament balls just as much fun as their toy ball. Some of our ornaments are made from glass so thin that one bite from a dog can shatter it, possibly cutting the pets mouth, tongue and hopefully it will not get ingested. Ornaments can also be choking hazards. Shiny tinsel and ribbons can be a temptation for a cat or dog to chew and swallow and can cause choking or intestinal blockages. If the Christmas tree is a live one, even the evergreen needles can cause mouth and stomach irritation if eaten. The artificial flocking on trees is mildly toxic and can cause an upset stomach if ingested. Preservatives that are used in the tree water are often sugar based and if left standing for long periods, can harbor harmful bacteria. The tree will leach any insecticides or fertilizers used during growth into the water also. It's just a good idea to be sure to cover the water with the tree skirt or sufficiently block the tree stand where the pets can't drink the water.

Electrical cords and extension cords can be fatal hazards for our pets. If you have pets that will to chew on anything, extra precautions are needed for electrical cords to prevent mouth burns, electric shock or death from electrocution. The same precautions should be taken if strings of holiday lights are within reach. There are substances that can be bought at pet stores that will make the cords unappetizing for the teething pet, and keep the lights and cords unplugged if you're not there to supervise. Also, someone with pets should think twice before putting edible ornaments on the tree. That's asking for trouble!

Some of the plants we bring into our homes to decorate for the holidays can be harmful to our pets. Mistletoe berries are extremely toxic, although it's difficult to find them with actual berries still attached. The leaves are not as toxic, but should be kept away from pets and children. The berries can be fatal if even a couple are ingested. It's not worth the risk and I wouldn't even consider bringing it into my home. There is enough artificial mistletoe available and no one has to know it's fake. Poinsettias' are not really toxic, but if pets ingest the leaves they still could get upset stomachs and mouth irritation from the sap. There is thought to be a poisonous poinsettia that grows in Hawaii but is not marketed. Possibly this is one reason for the rumor that poinsettias are poisonous. Holly berries really are poisonous. They cause gastrointestinal irritation with vomiting and diarrhea. The leaves have some toxicity also, but are usually pointed and uncomfortable for pets to try to eat. The Amaryllis bulbs commonly forced into bloom and used around the holidays are very toxic to our pets. The leaves and the flowers should be kept away from pets as kidney failure can result if ingested. Cyclamens are sometimes used as an indoor flower at the holiday also, but it is the rhizome under the soil that is toxic, so the pets would have to dig them up and ingest them.

Most of us know by now that chocolate is not good for our pets. Milk chocolate is the least harmful and only because it would have to be consumed in large quantities and baking chocolate and dark chocolates are the most poisonous to our pets. The ingredient in chocolate that is hazardous to our pets is theobromine and baking chocolate has about ten times more that milk chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate falls somewhere in between and is still very toxic. A small dog such as a Toy Poodle or Chihuahua can die from one-half ounce of baking chocolate or four to ten ounces of milk chocolate. Mid size dogs such as Cocker Spaniels can die from two to three ounces of baking chocolate or one to one and one-half pounds of milk chocolate. The amounts that are fatal to a large breed dog such as a German Shepherd are four to eight ounces of baking chocolate or two to four and one-half pounds of milk chocolate. Chocolate increases the animal's heart rate, causes hyper activity, muscle tremors, vomiting and diarrhea. The theobromine acts as a diuretic and excessive urination will cause rapid dehydration. Caffeine such as coffee and tea should be kept away from pets as well. It's a good idea to be careful where you put that bowl of holiday Hershey's Kisses, M&Ms and keep the baking chocolates put away from your pet's reach at all times.

Alcohol consumption is also dangerous for pets. They will be especially attracted to the sweet drinks such as eggnog. It's better to never leave drinks with alcohol where pets can get to them. It doesn't take much alcohol for the pet to get alcohol poisoning and become very ill. Other miscellaneous edibles to keep away from pets are macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins. The research is still not clear why these items are toxic to pets. A few grapes would not be harmful, but a large cluster would be. The same thing is true for garlic and onions.

There are several miscellaneous things to keep in consideration where pets are concerned. If you are going to be flying with pets for the holidays, be very cautious with pet sedatives. The effect of sedatives intensifies at high altitudes. There are many reported cases of animals dying due to over sedation when flying. Go over the dosage amount carefully and be certain you understand the veterinarian's instructions and follow them.

Even batteries can be harmful to the dog that chews on everything. The holidays are usually a time when batteries are in constant need and it's better to keep them away from the curious dog. You might have multiples of batteries you are putting in those holiday toys and have a few in the floor with you. Dogs have very strong teeth and not only could the metal shards be very dangerous, but the acid in the battery can cause serious burns. The chances may be slim for this to happen, but there are dogs that do chew on all sorts of strange things!

Rock salt can be an issue for pets in colder regions. If you use rock salt, be sure to wash your pet's paws as soon as possible. The calcium chloride can irritate the paws. It is not really dangerous if the pet eats a little, but it can irritate the mouth and cause an upset the stomach. Plenty of water and little food should dilute the salt enough to not be harmful.

Unfortunately, we know that is not the case with antifreeze. It's that time of year when it is going to be used more often and as cautious as a pet owner might be, a neighbor may not be as cautious. Antifreeze is deadly in even small quantities. There are new types on the market that doesn't contain ethylene glycol, but there is still plenty of the hideously toxic stuff. The antifreeze is sweet and pets seem to like it. The ethylene glycol is the deadly substance that pets find sweet and irresistible. It only takes about a tablespoon to kill a cat and a couple of ounces to kill a dog. Time is the only thing that matters if you suspect a pet has ingested antifreeze, the longer it is in their system the less chance they have of surviving. Dogs need emergency treatment within about four hours to even have a chance of survival, cats have about half that amount of time. If pets are around vehicles, it's worth checking regularly for antifreeze leaks underneath. Even though the antifreeze is diluted in cars, it is still dangerous. Undiluted antifreeze is deadly to animals and must be handled with extreme care.

There are times when something as innocent as potpourri can make our pets sick. We all have a tendency to use lots of good aromas to fragrance our homes around the holidays. The oils can sometimes be toxic to our pets and the smells entice them to try some. Oh, I almost forgot, don't put those treats for your pets under the tree until you're ready for them to be opened and you can supervise. (Yes, pet lovers always have holiday gifts for their pets!) They will smell them and possibly eat ribbon, paper and all! It only takes a few extra precautions around this time of year can keep our pets happy, healthy and enjoying the holidays with us!