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Holiday safety for your furry friends
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It can be such a busy time during the holidays, that sometimes we are not as attentive to the safety of our pets as we are the rest of the year. And there are more challenges during the holidays, as you will see from the list below. I hope that by reminding you of some of the common hazards at this time of year, that you will have an easier time of keeping your pets healthy, happy and safe this winter.
Some Common Hazards Around the House:
(From Booklet "101 Things You Didn't Know Could Harm Your Pet" Presented by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance)
1) Ibuprofen, aspirin, cold & flu remedies etc.
2) Mothballs
3) Liquid potpourri
4) Tobacco products
5) 26 common plants including Christmas Rose, Holly, Lillies & Mistletoe
6) Chocolate
7) Coffee & tea leaves
8) Macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes, avocados
9) Alcoholic beverages
10) Foods, candies & gum sweetened with xylitol
11) Batteries
12) Jewelry
13) String, yarn & ribbon
14) Angel hair (Spun glass)
15) Stagnant Christmas tree water
16) Decoration hooks
17) Styrofoam
18) Tree ornaments
19) Tinsel
20) Indoors & Out - Electrical cords
21) Outdoors - De-icing salts
22) Outdoors - Ethylene glycol in anti-freeze
23) Outdoors - Cocoa bean shell mulch fertilizer
24) Outdoors - Unattended pools & hot tubs
25) Outdoors - Open gates & doors from visitors
When entertaining with lots of rich food and candy on counters and coffee tables, it may be best to put your pets in another safe room or in their crate - with a cozy bed and drinking water. To be even safer, take off their collar, since dog tags can get caught in crates and in heating vents.This is especially important when guests are coming and going, they might not be as careful about latching gates and closing doors tight. So your uncollared dog doesn't out, maybe latch or lock the door from curious children and put a sign on the door.
By no means is this meant to be a complete list of home hazards, nor is it intended as medical advice. When in doubt if your pet has gotten into something, call your veterinarian. In certain circumstances, the pharmacists on call at the California Poison Control System, can assist you with some of the things that dogs and cats can get into. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is another resource, though they charge a fee for their consultation.
YOUR VET"S NUMBER:
CA POISON CONTROL SYSTEM: 1-800-222-1222
ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER: 1-888-426-4435 (fee charged)
For ideas on crate-training, go to www.DOG-B-GOOD.com/articles.html.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and your 4-footed friends.
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