What an awesome time of year! Decorations that spice up the holidays have been everywhere. Have you adorned your home with beautiful and delightful strings of beads, knickknacks, and other items that are particularly appealing to pets? Let’s not forget the many sights, sounds, exciting smells, and new hiding places that make pets jump for joy! I have some simple recommendations that will help keep your furry family members safe and out of trouble during the holidays and throughout the year.
Many of us are very fond of the various festive holiday decor and plants that are finding their way into our homes. The most common varieties of plants include poinsettias, holly, chrysanthemums, and Christmas cacti. Some will be placed in the center of the dining room table and others sit beside the fireplace. Did you realize that their berries, leaves, and stalks contain toxins? The consumption of these plant materials is rarely fatal but they do tend to be quite irritating to a pet’s mouth and stomach wall. Your pet will likely reward you with a good case of diarrhea and a considerable amount of vomit.
String things are particularly attractive to cats. They find tinsel, garland, and ribbons of any type fun to play with. Swallowing these items may cause a pet’s GI tract to become obstructed. Surgery, to remove the offending material, is often needed to avoid a life-threatening situation. Being cognizant of their propensity to play with and subsequently ingest such materials is important. Please remove them from your home before your pet needs to have a veterinarian remove them from their GI tract!
The warm touch that aromatic flickering candles bring to our home is particularly pleasing to my wife. To avoid a visit from the DeWitt city fire department, she places the burning candles near the back on the counter. In this way, as they romp through the house, the “crew” is far less likely to knock them over.
Although the majority of the holidays are over, many still have trees into January, and the following suggestions can help keep your pets safe not only during the holidays but also throughout the year. Just for the fun of it, how many of these can you relate to?
Is your kitty a climber? If so, try anchoring your Christmas tree to the wall or ceiling with a few well placed guide wires. Keeping the tree upright will make everyone’s holiday season much brighter.
Does your pet think that you are awesome and so considerate? Why? Because you went to the trouble of putting a personal water dispenser in the living room! Wow, will you look at that. It even has a tree growing out of the center. Is the “Tree Saver” solution pet safe? If it is, generally one of the first notes you’ll see, prominently displayed on the label, is “Pet Safe.” If not, please don’t take a chance.
Many of the glass ornaments that hang from the tree branches (live tree or artificial) are very ornate and quite beautiful. However, if they should fall and break, the tiny pieces of glass can present a serious problem for tender paws! To avoid such a situation, those of you who have pets may want to consider wood or plastic ornaments to adorn your tree, particularly on lower branches.
Have you designated an area within your home as a sanctuary? Some pets need a place where they are able to escape from the rigors of the holidays. When things get too hectic, they simply want a place where they can hide. Some find that they are much more comfortable when a few moments of tranquility are made available.
Unspoken rule number one is: ALL food conveniently stored beneath the tree belongs to the furry family members! Did you get that? Digestive upsets often occur when pets investigate edible items (cheese, meats and the like) or treats (cookies and popcorn) placed under the tree as gifts or that hang from their branches. Either way, it would be best if you not tempt your pet by keeping edible items out of their reach.
Is your pet an escape artist? Visitors should be informed, well BEFORE they arrive, that somebody has been known to make a mad dash for the door whenever it is opened. I very much doubt anyone wants to be responsible for aiding an escapee! Once loose, capturing the rebel is always challenging!
During the holidays we are all very busy. Although everyone may be having a wonderful time, pets that thrive on a routine, are often traumatized. Won’t you be cognizant of their needs? If you find them out of sorts, be sensitive to their needs and offer them the chance to get some relief by putting them in an area within the house that is less hectic.
What might you give your pet for a holiday gift? The gift of good health is a wonderful present. You can start with an annual comprehensive physical examination. This is a great time to ensure all is physically well with your pet as well as a time to discuss any problems that have occurred during the previous year.Immunizations and parasite control (heartworms, fleas, intestinal parasites and others) are very important. Having your pet consume a diet that is appropriate for their life stage and body condition (do not give them any extra calories) will greatly influence both their quality of life and their life expectancy. Then there is of course the intangible - the daily dose of LOVE!
Happy holidays to all of the marvelous pets and their human care givers! I wish you and yours the best in the coming New Year.
