Dog Adoption Network - Keep Pets Safe During the Holiday

Help Your Pets Enjoy A Safe and Healthy Holiday Season

Christmas trees and pine needles: If you have a large dog or tree-climbing cat, use a strong cord or rope to secure the top of the tree to a wall. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's intestines. Clean around your holiday trees and wreaths often. Drinking the water from the Christmas tree base is enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting and distract your pet from tree temptations with holiday toys and treats.

Candy: Like you, pets can suffer stomach aches and cavities from overindulgence in holiday candy. Chocolate contains theobromine, a caffeine like substance, that acts like a stimulant and can cause seizures or heart failure and can be fatal.

Lit candles: can produce fumes that can be harmful to birds if inhaled. And don't forget, your pet's wagging tail can easily knock over a burning candle. Liquid potpourri is also dangerous to pets, who can ingest it from decorative bowls and simmering pots.

Plants: Juice from holiday plants, including poinsettia, is toxic enough to cause serious harm or even death to your pets. Vomiting, frothing, depression, crying, and muscle twitching are signs of plant poisoning. Other plants that can make your pet sick are holly, mistletoe, lillies and amaryllis

Ornaments: Breakable tree ornaments, angel hair, tinsel icicles, and ribbons should be kept out of your pet's reach. Ornaments, hooks, ribbon and rubber bands can be safety hazards. They can be ingested and swallowed, causing serious and possible fatal digestive problems.

Alcohol: Don't share a little "Holiday Cheer" with your pet any time. It seems like a fun thing but the side effects can be harmful, even fatal. A 30-pound dog, for example, would be considered "under the influence" with just two tablespoons of whiskey. Two teaspoons would make a five-pound cat comatose and a tablespoon could kill the same animal. Alcohol is toxic to puppies and kittens and their "sipping" from your holiday spirit glass can lead to heart and liver complications.

Batteries: contain corrosives that can cause ulceration in your pet's mouth, tongue and gastrointestinal tract if bitten or swallowed.

Bones: NEVER give ham, steak, or poultry bones to your pets. Ingestion of these can lead to severe intestinal disease such as perforations or obstructions. Ingestion of excessive fatty food may cause severe vomiting and diarrhea.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER THE DANGERS OF ANTIFREEZE POISONING. IT'S SWEET, IT TASTES GOOD AND IT KILLS!

If you suspect your pet has gotten into a potentially poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline, 1-888-426-4435, for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more yuletide safety tips, watch the ASPCA video at ASPCA Online

Shy animals can get stressed with the hustle and bustle of holiday guests, so make sure there's a quiet room to which your pets can retreat.

Some text from above was obtained from the ASPCA News Alert.

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