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Holiday Safety
Winter Holiday Hazards For Pets
For general pet care information visit
The Partnership for Animal Welfare.
Here are some tips for keeping your pets out of danger
during the holiday season:
SOCIAL SITUATIONS
- Reduce stress by keeping feeding and exercise on a regular schedule.
- Holiday guests can be very stressful to pets; make sure they have a safe, quiet place to retreat.
- It is natural for a dog lover to want to bring a pet to a family gathering but it is not always a good idea; be realistic about how others might view your family member.
- New Year’s Eve is a fun celebration for humans but can be hazardous for pets. Noisemakers may frighten your pet and cause him to bolt out an open door or window.
- Have up-to-date ID on your pets so in case they escape during the holiday comings and goings they can be reunited with you quickly.
AVOID Holiday Food Items That Could Cause Problems For Your Pet:
- Human holiday foods, including turkey and ham, are too rich for pets and overfeeding them can cause serious health problems for them.
- Bones are dangerous for pets, especially poultry bones which splinter easily and can cause choking and/or damage to the GI tract.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
- Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Fatty foods
- Salt
- Yeast dough
PLANTS
- Lilies that may be found in holiday flower arrangements could be deadly to your cat. Many types of lily, such as Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, and the Casa Blanca, can cause kidney failure in cats.
- Poinsettias are generally over-rated in toxicity. If ingested, poinsettias can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.
- Mistletoe has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. However, mistletoe ingestion usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
- Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.
HAZARDS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
- Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
- Pine needles can puncture a pet’s intestines when ingested; keep pet areas free of them.
- Anchor the Christmas tree to the ceiling to keep it from falling on your pet.
- Electric cords and plugs of holiday lights and decorations can look like chew toys; tape them down or cover them to avoid shocks and burns and unplug them when you leave the house.
- Breakable ornaments can injure paws and if swallowed they can do damage to the mouth and GI tract.
- Keep all candles on high shelves and use a screen in front of the fireplace. Never leave candles unattended.
- Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is deadly to pets; keep them out of pet’s reach.
- Avoid toxic decorations. Bubbling lights contain liquid which can be inhaled or ingested, snow flock can cause reactions when inhaled, and styrofoam poses a choking hazard.
- Ribbons or tinsel can tempt animals and if eaten can block the intestine; hang it high or skip it altogether.
- Batteries contain corrosives. If ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Put away toys after children open their gifts. Small plastic pieces and rubber balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. Ingested plastic or cloth toys must often be removed surgically.
MEDICATIONS
- Keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of the reach of your pets, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer, drugs, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medication that could be potentially lethal even in small dosages. One regular-strength ibuprofen tablet (200mg) can cause stomach ulcers in a 10-pound dog. Remind holiday guests to store their medications safely as well.
- During the holidays, many veterinary clinics have limited office hours. In some cases, pet owners try to medicate their animals without their veterinarian's advice. Never give your animal any medications unless under the directions of veterinarian. Many medications that are used safely in humans can be deadly when used inappropriately. Less than one regular strength acetaminophen tablet (325mg) can be dangerous to a cat weighing 7lbs.
OTHER WINTER HAZARDS
- Antifreeze has a pleasant taste. Unfortunately, very small amounts can be lethal. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less than four teaspoons can be dangerous to a 10-pound dog. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store in secured cabinets. Automotive products such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze should be stored in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. Propylene glycol is a safer form of antifreeze. Low Tox™ brand antifreeze contains propylene glycol and is recommended to use in pet households.
- If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-4 ANI HELP (888-426-4435) right away!
- Liquid potpourris are popular household fragrances commonly used during the holiday season. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming. Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage.
- Ice melting products can be irritating to skin and mouth. Depending on the actual ingredient of the ice melt and the quantity, signs of ingestion would include excessive drooling, depression, vomiting or even electrolyte imbalances.
- Rat and mouse killers are used more commonly during colder weather. When using rat and mouse bait, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.
ALWAYS Be Prepared!!!
Your animal may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to prevent it. You should keep telephone numbers for your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP) in a convenient location. If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
888-4 ANI HELP (888-426-4435)
www.apcc.aspca.org
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, an operating division of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and pet owners. The Center's hotline veterinarians can quickly answer questions about toxic substances found in our everyday surroundings that can be dangerous to animals. The Center maintains a wide collection of reference materials and computer databases that help provide toxicological information for various species. Veterinary professionals provide around-the-clock, on-site coverage of the Center. The licensed staff members share over one hundred and ten years of combined call center experience and over seventy-five years of combined toxicology, clinical, and diagnostic experience.