Winter Holiday Hazards
As the December holiday season approaches, please keep in mind the following dangers to which your pet may be exposed.
Bones: The holiday chicken or turkey will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your pet. Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract.
Fat: Those wonderful potato latkes (watch the hot oil!), gravies and poultry skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and/or pancreatitis.
Electrical Cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for pets to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles: Lighted candles should never be let unattended and that is even more important if left at kitty's eye level, or within puppy's chewing zone. An exuberant tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous. Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and paws.
Pine needles: Check around holiday trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pinde needles can puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough.
Batteries: found often in kids toys, they can be corrosive if damaged, and can become lodged
**Do not induce vomiting, let us do that if it is needed.
Xylitol: a sweetener in gum, candy, and breath fresheners
**as little as 1-2 pieces of xylitol sweetened gum can cause problems in a small dog
Chocolate: the active agent is theobromine
**dark/bakers chocolate is most toxic
** white chocolate isn’t toxic
Nicotine: found in cigarettes, cigars, and butts
**cigarettes= 13-30 mg nicotine
**cigars= 15-40 mg nicotine
**butts= 5-7mg nicotine
**lethal dose of nicotine is 9.2mg/kg
Alcohol: in beverages and fermenting bread dough. Prognosis is good with immediate treatment, and supportive care is very important
Bread Dough: toxic agent is alcohol released from fermentation process. Yeast will grow and expand the dough, causing gastric dilation/torsion
Mistletoe: may see vomiting, diarrhea, shock in some cases, and dilated pupils. **Supportive care is very important**
Poinsettia: not toxic, but can cause oral irritation to mouth, and also irritate the stomach
Tinsel & ribbon: can wrap around the tongue, or cause an obstruction. It is very important to keep these items away from your pets!!
Important Phone Numbers:
1. ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 ($50 per case)
2. North Shore Animal League 888-232-8870
Stress and company: With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets. Make sure your pets have collars and tags in case of escape. Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets under foot. Remind them that your normally friendly pet may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people.
December Coupon
Please call boarding and grooming to make an appointment to get your pet ready for the holidays with a specially priced bath, toenail trim, and holiday bandana.
