Since the holiday season is in mid swing, we thought we’d give you some vet recommended tips for keeping your pets safe this holiday!

Holiday Foods to keep away from your Pet

• Alcoholic beverages
• Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Garlic
• Fatty foods
• Salt
• Yeast dough
• Macadamia nuts

PLANTS

• Lilies that may be found in holiday flower arrangements are very toxic to your cat. Many types of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats.
• Mistletoe has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. However, mistletoe ingestion usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
• Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.
• Poinsettias are over-rated in toxicity. If ingested, poinsettias can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.

HAZARDS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

• Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
• Electric cords- Avoid animal exposure to electric cords-especially puppies who like to chew on everything. If they were chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide electric cords, never let your pet chew on them.
• Ribbons or tinsel Keep tinsel off of the lower part of the Christmas tree where playful cats and dogs may be tempted to play with and eat these shiny objects.  Tinsel and ribbon can get caught in the intestines and stomach or even under the tongue and cause life threatening obstructions.
• Batteries contain corrosives. If ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Glass ornaments can cut the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract if ingested.
• Potpourris are popular household fragrances commonly used during the holiday season. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming. Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal, and ocular damage. Dry potpourri generally doesn’t cause those issues, but there may be problems due to foreign body and (possibly) toxic plant ingestion.

MEDICATIONS

Keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of the reach of your pets, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer, drugs, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medication that could be potentially lethal even in small dosages.

Ibuprofen tablet (200mg) can cause stomach ulcers in a 10-pound dog. Remind holiday guests to store their medications safely as well.

Acetaminophen (tylenol) can be very dangerous to pets as they do not metabolize this the same way humans do.

During the holidays, many veterinary clinics have limited office hours. In some cases, pet owners try to medicate their animals without their veterinarian’s advice. Never give your animal any medications unless under the directions of veterinarian. Many medications that are used safely in humans can be deadly when used inappropriately.

OTHER WINTER HAZARDS

• Antifreeze has a pleasant taste. Unfortunately, very small amounts can be lethal. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less than four teaspoons can be dangerous to a 10-pound dog. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store in secured cabinets. Automotive products such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze should be stored in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. Propylene glycol is a safer form of antifreeze. Low Tox™ brand antifreeze contains propylene glycol and is recommended to use in pet households.
• If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4-ANI-HELP) right away!
• Ice melting products can be irritating to skin and mouth. Depending on the actual ingredient of the ice melt and the quantity, signs of ingestion would include excessive drooling, depression, vomiting or even electrolyte imbalances.
• Rat and mouse killers are used more commonly during colder weather. When using rat and mouse bait, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.

If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-4-ANI-HELP right away.

Thanksgiving, for many people means an annual gathering of family and friends and a feast guaranteed to satisfy the soul, stretch the pants, and eventually lull you into an a peaceful night’s sleep.

On this special day, we are all reminded of the things in our lives that we have to be thankful. No surprise here, but for many, our pets rank pretty high on this list of thanks. Our pets are sometimes seen as an extension of ourselves, always giving unconditional love, and asking very little in return.

So why not treat Fido to a special Thanksgiving feast of his own? In honor of Thanksgiving, we’ve created a Fido-friendly menu of table top treats that are safe for your furry four-legged friend. Here are a few of the ideas:

1. White turkey meat (without skin)

2. Plain baked sweet potato (without skin)  

3. Apple slices (remove any seeds)

4. Steamed carrots, broccoli, or green beans (without any sauces or seasonings)

5. Salt-free chicken broth

6. Plain canned pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling)

On the other hand, there are a few things that you should avoid feeding your dog:

1. Fatty Foods-According to the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, feeding dogs large quantities of a new food, as well as fatty foods, such as turkey gravy, mashed potatoes with butter, and dressing, can cause pancreatitis. This potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas produces severe symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting.

2. Turkey Skin-Turkey skin is high in fat, hard to digest, and also contains whatever marinades (oil or butter) and seasonings that you use. All of these things can cause your dog to have an upset stomach and should be avoided.

3. Cooked Bones-Cooked bird bones (turkey, duck, etc) can be very dangerous to dogs. Cooked bones splinter and break easily, so that sharp pieces of bone may possibly tear the intestines. A bone could pass by itself, but more often it becomes lodged in the dog’s throat, which could cause choking, or it could possibly cause an intestinal obstruction.

4. Chocolate- Chocolates contain theobromine, a stimulant found in the cocoa bean which is harmful to dogs. Theobromine  increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle and can mildly increase blood pressure. While amounts of theobromine vary according to the kind of chocolate (white chocolate contains much less than baker’s chocolate), chocolate is a food that owners should steer clear of feeding their dog all together.

5. Onions-Onions are toxic to dogs. They can lead to a life threatening form of anemia that may not be detected for days.

6. Alochol-Alcohol can cause many problems in pets including behavioral changes, kidney damage, respiratory problems, heart problems, or even death. 

7. Large amounts of people food-If your dog is not already accustomed to eating people food, give them little snacks sparingly. Large amounts of people food may irritate their stomach.

So enjoy this Thanksgiving with Fido – just make sure that you feed him safe treats, and everyone will be happy–and healthy.