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"Paws"
before Giving a Pet for a Holiday Gift
And other tips to protect our animal friends this holiday season
Thoughts of the Winter Holidays bring to mind cold
weather, the smell of cookies baking, Christmas trees surrounded by
presents, menorahs, and homes filled with family and friends. All of these
harbingers of the holidays bring joy to our hearts, but they also present
potential harm to our beloved pets.
"Christmas and Hanukkah are a joyous time of year, but pet owners
must keep a special watch on their animals to protect them from the
hazards of the holidays," said Dr. Lawrence, a veterinarian at
Ebenezer Animal Hospital. "Pet owners must make sure their pets are
safe from potential danger both inside and outside of the house."
Here are 11 tips to help you protect our animal friends during the Winter
Holidays:
1. Remember pets that don't fit can't be returned. Giving a pet as a
holiday gift takes planning. First, you have to make sure the person
really wants a pet, and he or she realizes the responsibilities of taking
care of the pet. A new pet is a member of the family, and not everyone has
time to appreciate this fact amid the bustle of festivities. It's often
advised to wait a week or two after Christmas before giving the pet, to
make sure the pet doesn't get injured in all the holiday activity.
2. Christmas trees and pets are a recipe for disaster! Try to place
decorations above paw level; use no breakable ornaments; use string,
rather than hooks, to attach ornaments; and make sure electrical cords are
out of chewing reach.
3. A ten-pound cat two thirds of the way up your tree spells T-I-M-B-E-R!
Live trees should be held in place by tying the top of the tree with nylon
wire and securing it to a hook in the ceiling.
4. Both dogs and cats will eat tinsel or angel hair, which can cause
severe intestinal problems. Tinsel and other string-like objects have a
tendency to get stuck under a cat's tongue or in the outflow area of the
stomach and can't pass through the digestive system. The result is severe
injury and potential infection of the abdominal cavity. Angel hair is made
of spun glass and can irritate the skin, cut or damage the eyes, and if
eaten, cause intestinal blockage.
5. Pets can be shocked, burned and even electrocuted if they chew on
electrical cords. Play it safe by running cords through PVC pipe or hiding
them under rugs or behind furniture.
6. Poinsettias, mistletoe, holly and ivy range from mildly to extremely
toxic. Eating them can cause your pet gastrointestinal irritation, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system or cardiac problems or even
death.
7. Gift wrap in all its many forms can be dangerous if eaten by your pet.
Keep rubber bands, staples, string, ribbon, foam packaging and foil out of
your pet's reach. Some of these can cause serious complications if
ingested. Put away all wrapping materials when you are through with them.
8. Chocolate is the most dangerous holiday food hazard for dogs. It can
cause theobromine poisoning which is an overstimulation of the nervous
system, and can be fatal. Bones can cause choking and internal punctures
for cats and dogs. Too much spicy, fatty or sweet food can bring on
gastric upset and pancreatitis. Never leave any food unattended when pets
are around. Your pets will have a happier holiday by sticking to their
regular diet!
9. Beware the holiday visitors who share their dinner with your pets,
perhaps even giving them treats that are bad for them. Explain to visitors
that certain foods can harm animals, and then give them a few pet treats
to offer instead. Keep a special eye on small children who might not know
how to handle or play with your pets.
10. Flames or dripping wax can burn pets or singe their whiskers, not to
mention the fire hazard if they knock over a burning candle. Keep the
lighted Menorah out of reach, and never leave candles burning near an
unattended pet.
11. Not all holiday hazards are inside your house. Be sure to keep
anti-freeze out of a pet's reach! Some animals like the sweet taste of
anti-freeze, but even in the smallest amounts, it can harm or kill your
pet. Always give your horn a honk or two prior to starting your car to
alert pets sleeping on your warm engine. Wipe off the salt used to melt
ice from your pet's feet before they lick them.
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