Holiday Hazards

The holidays and cold weather have arrived.  It is a celebration with friends and family, the entire family.  To make sure your holidays stay happy and healthy, we have listed a few suggestions and holiday items around the house that are hazardous to your pets.

1. Chocolate:  Depending on the dose ingested, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, an increased heart rate and death.  While all chocolates can be toxic, dark and baker's chocolate are the most dangerous. Be aware of, when baking, how quickly chocolate on the counter can disappear when you turn around for something else.  
2. Candy/gum:  Candy, gum and foods that contain Xylitol ( a sugar substitute) can cause a drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.  Remember this when you are about to give out a taste of a sugar free cookie or cake.
3. Leftovers:  DO NOT FEED table scrapes. Greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause an upset stomach.  Turkey skin and grease is the biggest cause of pancreatitis the day after a holiday.  Bones can splinter and cause blockages and choking.  Left over party foods spoil quickly when left out and thrown away.  Remember, just because you threw the food away, you have to get it out of the house to keep temptation to minimum.
4. Alcohol:  Alcohol can cause a pet to go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.  Remember to pour all leftover liquid after a gathering down the drain right away.
5. Aluminum:  Aluminum foil and cellophane wrappers can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.  Aluminum foil ingestion has also been linked to seizures.
6. Holiday Plants:  Pretty as they are, ivy, holly, mistletoe, hibiscus, poinsettia, lilies and Christmas greens can all be toxic to animals when ingested.
1. Lilies:  Toxic lilies in families such as Easter, Tiger and hibiscus can cause kidney failure in cats.  Dogs can experience vomiting, bloody diarrhea and can be lethal.  
2. Mistletoe and Holly:  Mistletoe and holly berries can cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, nausea and diarrhea), depression, severe cardiovascular problems and lethargy.
3. Poinsettias:  Poinsettias are considered very low in toxicity but might cause mild vomiting or nausea.
4. Christmas tree water:  Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers that can upset a pet's stomach.  Stagnant water can also be a breeding ground for bacteria.
5. Ivy:  Ivy can cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, hyperactivity, breathing difficulty, coma, fever, increased thirst, dilated pupils, muscular weakness, and in-coordination
7. Decorations:  Decorations like ribbons and tinsel can become lodged in intestines and cause an obstruction.  Glass and plastic ornaments can break and splinter and can cause choking, gastrointestinal upset and obstruction.  You might also have more electric cords plugged in that might cause some entanglements (fracture limbs) or electric shocks.  Snow globes and artificial snow contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets if ingested or inhaled.
8. Antifreeze:  Antifreeze, salt and ice can get caked into the fur and paws so wipe down your pet's paws and belly when they come in from the cold or icy weather.  If you believe your pet has stepped in antifreeze, wash their paws with soap and water and contact your veterinarian.  Please keep all supplies out of reach of pets and children.  Make sure if there are any spills, they are cleaned up thoroughly.
9. Gatherings:  The hustle and bustle of the holidays can cause unwanted excitement in our pets.  Always designate a quiet, secure room for your pets just in case they are not in the parting mood because strange people and crowds can scare many pets.