Holidays present dangers to pets

The holidays are an exciting, busy time of cooking, shopping, entertaining, shuttling between parties and get-togethers, and spending time with family and friends. During this most hectic time of the year, it’s easy to overlook details to which we’d otherwise be attentive.

Over this past Thanksgiving holiday, for example, I gave our dogs a portion of the turkey, gravy and stuffing that my family and I had enjoyed, not wanting them to feel left out of the holiday spirit. Like us, they had some of the leftovers over a few days. These were relatively small portions — or so I thought, and I was careful not to give any poultry bones — I knew these were a definite no-no!

Regardless, our dog, Sara Lee, began throwing up tiny amounts intermittently for a week past the holidays. It was only after several days and talking to our vet that we realized the “small” amounts of holiday food I had given her may have caused her throwing up. Surprising, considering it hadn’t been much food and she’s a fairly large dog, weighing about 70 pounds.

As I write this column, we have been advised by the veterinarian to put her on a special diet to get her digestive system back to normal after all the rich, fatty, human food she should never have been given in the first place. Feeling guilty, I did a quick search on the Internet for “holiday dangers to pets” and sure enough, found loads of information. The holidays are indeed filled with dangers to our pets.

The experts advise that we stick to our pets’ usual routines of feeding, exercise and playtime schedules as much as possible during the holidays. Also try not to coddle or do anything over the holidays with your pet that you would normally not do. Keep in mind that for our pets, any time spent with us, their human family, is always a howliday. They may not understand, or appreciate, all the extra holiday hullabaloo.

Here are some holiday safety tips for pets:
--Rich, fatty holiday foods, ham/turkey drippings, seasoned foods, bones, large amounts of onion and garlic, macadamia nuts, chocolates and candies can be toxic to pets and wreak havoc on digestive tracts, especially with cats and smaller pets. Also be sure to discourage any unwitting guests from “treating” your pets.

--Regardless of the good time you’re having, do not give alcoholic drinks to your pet.

-- If you have houseguests, ask them to secure their luggage and store away all their medications. Even seemingly harmless human prescription or over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), can be lethal if ingested by pets.

-- Holly, mistletoe, hibiscus, amaryllis, poinsettia and lily are all holiday plants with varying levels of toxicity. Make sure to place them where your pets cannot reach them.

-- Be aware of the types of ornaments decorating your tree. Some might be fascinating to your playful pet who might try to reach them, and run the risk of toppling the tree over.

-- Confetti and tinsel are choking hazards to pets and are dangerous if ingested; do not have them around if you have pets.

-- Be careful of pet costumes with rubber bands and be sure to take these costumes off as soon as dress-up is over.

-- Do not leave holiday candles burning without supervision or in places within reach of your pets.

-- Pets often try to chew electrical cords; make sure to cover all electrical wires.

-- If you’re hosting a party or having company over, be sensitive to your pet’s personality. Shy or reserved pets would likely most appreciate being crated away safely in a quiet room, away from the hubbub of activity.

-- Do not give a pet as a Christmas gift. Selecting a pet is a highly personal choice; this decision and choice should not be made for someone else. Also, in most households, the holidays are an extremely busy time, which does not make for an ideal acclimation period for either the new pet or its human companion. Instead, give a donation to an animal welfare organization in honor of that person. Or, give a gift of pet supplies or accessories that the receiver can use later on — once the holidays are over — when he is able to dedicate the time and effort needed to selecting the right pet.

-- On New Year’s Eve, keep in mind noise-makers and fireworks can terrify animals. They might even cause some to literally run away in fright. In close proximity, these loud sounds can also damage animals’ highly sensitive ears. Be considerate and take steps to ensure your pet will not be subjected to these noises. If there are children around, make sure the pet does not get teased with noise-makers or fireworks for the sake of everyone’s safety.

With all the holiday goings-on, it might be necessary to make an extra effort to maintain as much as possible your pets’ daily routine and be sensitive to their needs. After all, you want your pets to enjoy the holidays as much as you.