Advice - Special Holiday Tips

The holidays can create special dangers for your pets. Here are a few tips to help keep your pets safe during this special time of year.

 Increased activity and visitors during the holiday season can upset your pet's routine. Try to keep your pet on his regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure he gets plenty of love.

If you are planning to take your pet with you when visiting friends and relatives during the holiday season, be sure to contact them in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. Because of the excitement during this season, it might be best for you and your pet to board your pet or hire a reputable pet sitter.

 Alcoholic beverages, holiday treats such as chocolates, rich, fatty food scraps and bones can be harmful or toxic to pets. Keep your pet on his regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats."

Holiday paraphernalia can be dangerous to pets. Cover or tack down electrical cords. Keep tinsel and glass ornaments out of your pet's reach. Read warnings on items like spray-on snow. Never put ribbons around your pet's neck or allow it to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders.

Some Other Dangers Common To This Season Of The Year Are Listed Below

Holiday Decorations:

Bubbling Lights - Moderate to lethal toxicity, depending on the amount of fluid (methylene chloride) inhaled or ingested.

Fireplace Colors (fire salts) - Moderate toxicity; symptoms are gastrointestinal irritation with vomiting and a variety of other manifestations, including convulsions.

Angel Hair (spun glass) - Low toxicity; can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Christmas Tree Preservative Solution - Low toxicity, depending upon formulation and quantity ingested.

Snow Sprays and Snow Flock - Low toxicity, dry particles are inert; however, toxicity from inhalation can occur if sprayed directly in mouth.

Styrofoam - Low toxicity; can cause choking from mechanical obstruction

Christmas Tree Ornaments - Non-toxic, however intestinal obstruction and choking are potential problems.

Icicles (tinsel) - Non-toxic, however intestinal obstruction and choking are a common problem.

Snow Scenes - Toxicity may come from organisms possibly in the water, most notably Salmonella.

     (Read label warnings on all decorations and take the necessary precautions to protect your pet.)

Plants:

 Mistletoe - Very toxic, all parts, especially the berries.

Holly - Moderate to very toxic, especially the berries and leaves.

Poinsettia Leaves and Stems - low in toxicity.

Christmas Greens such as Balsam, Juniper, Cedar, Pine and Fir

(All parts of these plants have a low level of toxicity)

Hibiscus - May cause vomiting or bloody diarrhea if ingested.

     (Keep toxic plants out of your pet's and children's reach.)

Gifts and Miscellaneous Items:

 Button Battery (disk battery) - Caustic, potentially high toxicity depending upon the position of the battery in gastrointestinal tract.

Aftershave Lotion, Colognes, Perfumes, Alcoholic Beverages - Ethanol in various concentrations is moderately toxic depending upon the amount ingested. The high concentrations of essential oils in true perfumes are especially toxic.

Plastic Model Cement Moderate - toxicity

Epoxy Adhesive Uncured hardener - moderate to high toxicity.

Uncured resin - low toxicity, primarily irritation and sensitization.

Adhesives, Super Glue - Low Toxicity, most difficulty occurs when eyelids become bonded together. Artists' Supplies - Crayons, Felt Tip Markers, Pencils, Water-based Paints - Low toxicity; however, may cause more than a mild mucous membrane and gastrointestinal irritation.

Petroleum-based Paints - Low toxicity; primary concern is possibility of aspiration.

Toys Avoid toys with parts small enough to be pulled off and swallowed and toys painted with toxic materials, etc.

(Use same precautions as with children.)