|
Holiday
Hazards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Happy Holidays! The
coming months will be bustling with activity and holiday cheer.
Amid all the festivities, however, pet owners need to be aware that
the holidays may be full of hidden hazards.
Happily, these dangers to your pet can be avoided with a little
forethought and care. |
|
|
|
. |
.Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings are a wonderful treat for humans, but
can make dogs and cats very sick. In
addition to causing vomiting and diarrhea due to an abrupt change in diet,
the high fat content of most Thanksgiving dinners can induce a condition
known as pancreatitis, which may become life-threatening.
Take care to warn family members not to feed table scraps to the
pets, no matter how much they beg! After
the meal, remember to dispose of the turkey carcass or save it to make
turkey soup, but don’t give it to the dog to chew on.
Poultry bones are fragile and splinter easily.
A dog may get a whole bone stuck in its mouth or throat, or it may
splinter and lodge further down the intestinal tract, requiring surgical
removal. Very sharp edges may even tear through the intestine and
cause a serious infection of the abdomen. |
|
|
Christmas and Hanukkah bring their own potential harm to your pet.
Chocolates or poinsettias left in easily accessible places can be
toxic to animals. Especially
dangerous is baker’s chocolate, which has the highest concentration of
the toxic agent. Even
mistletoe, although great for kissing under, can be poisonous to your pet.
Christmas ornaments and small toys present another potential
problem. Like turkey bones,
these may cause serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and may
require surgical removal. Cats
are particularly enticed by tinsel hanging from the Christmas tree and
long pieces of curling ribbon. These
objects are very harmful if swallowed.
The long strings cause bunching of the intestines and require
extensive surgery to remove. |
|
|
|
|
By keeping these dangers in mind and taking appropriate steps to avoid
them, you and your pets can enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
Best wishes for the holiday season and coming New Year from your
friends at Olde Towne Animal Hospital! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
