The Holidays are Upon Us!

Follow these tips to help keep your pet happy and safe:

A few tasty table scraps can be a nice treat (away from the dinner table!), but too much holiday food can cause stomach upset for pets and people!  Grapes, raisins, onions, macadamia nuts and chocolate are toxic to dogs; cooked bones, especially poultry, can splinter and cause choking or perforations (raw bones can be ok). 

Calla lily, mistletoe berries and some other popular holiday plants and flowers are toxic to pets. Check with your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to find out more.

Christmas trees pose their own dangers, especially to young, curious dogs and cats.  Anchor the tree to a wall or ceiling hook with sturdy fishing line to prevent toppling.  Supervise closely when you first bring the tree inside; pets may be tempted to play with low-hanging ornaments or even urine-mark the tree.  Use non-breakable plastic or wooden ornaments, or none at all, on the tree’s bottom third.  Ornament hooks, tinsel and ribbon should be kept well out of range to prevent serious internal injuries. Tree stand water (which can contain pinesap, fertilizers, and pesticides) can be poisonous; keep the water container covered.  Avoid placing wrapped food items under the tree.

Hang indoor lights high and remember to unplug them when you're not home or can’t supervise your pet.  Lit candles should be kept out of any pet's reach.

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

Finally, the holidays are NOT the ideal time to acquire new pets.  Thousands of pets given as holiday “gifts” are abandoned or destroyed each year because no one had time to care for them after the novelty wore off.  Adding a pet, especially a puppy, to your family is a huge commitment of time, energy, money and love.  Please wait until the busy holidays are over to consider a new family member.

Copyright © 2007 Good Dog “U”, LLC