Pet pitfalls, holiday precautions

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

The Herald News - By Joyce Drzal

The holidays can be stressful for many people, with all the decorating, shopping and cooking involved. But they don't have to be stressful for your pet, if some precautions are made in advance.

First of all, the ever-ominous tinsel/icicles. When I had my first cat, I thought it was pretty funny when I was cleaning the litter box and there were two little cat droppings attached to some tinsel. After telling a friend what a nice tree ornament that would make, I was informed that it was a good thing it all came out that end and didn't end up balled together in my cat's stomach, or blocking his intestines.

That was just one of those things that never occurred to me, being a new cat owner. But now that I'm (much) older and wiser, I've learned a lot about holiday pet hazards.

Are you still a traditionalist and get a live tree every year? If you have pets, particularly a dog, make sure that your tree is secure, and omit any kind of preservatives in the tree-stand water. The best thing is to try and make the tree stand inaccessible to pets, because the water can become stagnant or full of bacteria and/or fertilizer, which can upset a pet's stomach.

Some other stomach-upsetting, and potentially dangerous, items are batteries, glass ornaments (if broken and ingested the shards can cause internal bleeding, your pet may think these are dangling toys), ornament hooks, and Styrofoam, which can cause your pet to choke if swallowed.

As for holiday plants, eating mistletoe may have your pet kissing the toilet. Toxic in high quantities, even a sprig or two can cause stomach upset. Christmas rose, holly and lilies are also bad. Poinsettia plants, while non-toxic, can cause a bellyache. This goes for both cats and dogs.

Be careful with the food scraps. Watch out for any bones that may not have been removed from meat, and a chocolate chaser is definitely a no-no. Keep the foil-wrapped candy away, and this also goes for any wrappers, which pets may eat. Place lit candles where your dog's tail can't whack them, or your cat can't jump up and knock them over. And nicely wrapped gifts should be kept out of paw's reach, because your pet may eat the ribbon and shred the wrapping, getting at what's inside and potentially ruining a nice gift.

And please think of your pet's emotional well-being, too. If they're not the most social of animals, consider putting them in a separate, quiet room when you have guests. This way you won't have to worry about them bolting out the door and running away. This is a good idea for New Year's, too, where noisemakers and loud noises can frighten your pet.

And, finally, while you may enjoy a little spiked eggnog, alcohol should NEVER be given to your dog or cat. It's not funny to get your pet drunk, and you can kill it. Alcohol is toxic to animals. And, as always, if you even suspect your pet has gotten into something it shouldn't, and there's any doubt in your mind as to its health, please call your vet without hesitation. But if you take a few common sense precautions, every species in your household can enjoy a healthy and happy Christmas season.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year from me and my dog Bugsy, and cats Otis, Porky, Felix, Homer J., Rooster, Pepper and Greta.