Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates - Holiday Safety Web Page

BBVA Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates

230 Main Street * Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 * Tel: 508-759-2521 * Fax: 508-759-6782

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

Be careful how you deck your halls! The holiday season is generally a time of family togetherness in which even our pets participate. One’s thoughts generally are far from thoughts of injury; however, one must be aware of some important seasonal hazards in order to ensure a happy holiday season.

RIBBONS & TINSEL:

These are of special interest to playful cats and kittens who see these materials as toys (or prey) to be chased, pounced upon, chewed or swallowed. While chasing and pouncing pose no health threats, chewing and swallowing do, as these strings or “linear foreign bodies” can become lodged in the GI tract and actually “saw” a hole in the intestines as the body tries desperately to rid itself of the string. This is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery for correction. Do not allow your pets to play with ribbon, tinsel, or string.

ELECTRIC LIGHT CORDS:

These are also tempting to cats who like to play with string as well as to puppies who are teething and interested in chewing. If a pet bites through an electrical cord, it could result in a severe burn to the tongue which causes the pet’s lung to fill with fluid, causing respiratory distress. This is also an emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention. Additionally, this could result in damage to your property as well as your pet. There have been reports of house fires caused by pet’s chewing on electric light cords.

CHOCOLATE:

Many people do not realize that chocolate is poisonous to pets. It is primarily dark chocolate that is the culprit as unsweetened baking chocolate carries a much higher dose of the toxin “theobromine” than does milk chocolate. Even more common milk chocolate can be dangerous; a small dog sharing candy can wind up in big trouble. Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning include hyperexcitability, nervousness, vomiting, and diarrhea and death. Use caution when receiving packages that may contain chocolate or when storing boxes of chocolate candies on your countertops. If your pet does ingest chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately with information on time of ingestion, approximate amount. Bring the box or container from any eaten chocolate to your veterinary appointment, as this will help us determine the dose that your dog or cat ingested.

POINSETTIA:

Consuming this festive-looking plant can be irritating to the mouth and stomach of the dog or cat that chews on or eats it. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettia is not specifically toxic.

MISTLETOE:

The fact that there are several types of mistletoe makes it difficult to predict the clinical signs of poisoning. Some mistletoes produce only stomach upset while others may lead to liver failure or seizuring. Consider mistletoe to be a hazardous substance and keep it inaccessible to pets and children.

COOKING:

Keep pets out of the kitchen during the hustle and bustle of the season. The last thing you want is for someone you love to get underfoot and get burned from spillage. Additionally, use care when stowing extra groceries as butter, baking chocolate, salt or salted nuts, chips, meats, and many more holiday items could make your pet dangerously sick. This is especially important if your dog or cat can reach your countertops.

DIETARY INDISCRETION:

We all like to include our pets in Holiday meals along with the rest of the family, but try to keep in mind that sudden rich diet changes are likely to upset a pet’s stomach. Vomiting and diarrhea are not uncommon. If leftovers are of an especially fatty nature, the pancreas may become inflamed and overloaded. This can lead to a life threatening crisis called disseminated intravascular coagulopathy – a type of body shock that can cause death. This condition is serious and may require hospitalization. Do NOT allow your pet to eat meat scraps, salty chips or nuts, pan drippings, or gravy. Making your animal sick due to ingestion of fatty foods is no holiday gift for your pet!

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