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Holiday Tips The holidays can create special dangers for your pets. Here are a few tips to help keep your pets safe during this special time of year. **Increased activitiy and visitors during the holiday season can upset your pet's routine. Try to keep your pet on his regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure he gets plenty of love. **If you are planning to take your pet with you when visiting friends and relatives during the holiday season, be sure to contact them in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. Because of the excitement during this season, it might be best for you and your pet to board your pet or hire a reputable pet sitter. **Alchoholic beverages, holiday treats such as chocolates, rich, fatty food scraps and bones can be harmful or toxic to pets. Keep your pet on his regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats". **Never put ribbons or yarn around your pet's neck and do not allow your pet to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders. **Cover or tack down electrical cords. Some other dangers common to this season of the year: **Plants: Keep toxic plants out of your pet's and children's reach. Mistletoe: very toxic, all parts, especially the berries Holly: moderate to very toxic, especially the berries and leaves Pointsettia: leaves and stems low in toxicity Christmas greens such as balsam, juniper, cedar, pine and fir: all parts of these plants have a low level of toxicity Hibiscus: may cause vomiting or bloody diarrhea if ingested **Holiday decorations: read label warnings on all decorations and take the necessary precautions to protect your pet. Bubbling lights: moderate to lethal toxicity, depending on the amount of fluid (methylene chloride) inhaled or ingested Fireplace colors (fire salts): moderate toxicity; symptoms are gastrointestinal irritation with vomiting and a variety of other manifestations, including convulsions Angel hair (spun glass): low toxicity; can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract Christmas tree preservative solution: low toxicity, depending on formulation and quantity ingested Snow sprays and snow flock: low toxicity, dry particles are inert; however, toxicity from inhalation can occur if sprayed directly in mouth Styrofoam: low toxicity; can cause choking from mechanical obstruction Christmas tree ornaments: non-toxic, however intestinal obstruction and choking are potential problems Icicles (tinsel): non-toxic, however intestinal obstruction and choking are potential problems Snow scenes: toxicity may come from organisms possibly in the water, most notably salmonella **Gifts and miscellaneous items: use same precautions as with children Button battery (disk battery): caustic, potentially high toxicity depending upon the position of the battery in gastrointestinal tract Aftershave lotion, colognes, perfumes, alchoholic beverages: ethanol in various concentrations is moderately toxic depending upon the amount ingested. The high concentrations of essential oils in true perfumes are especially toxic Plastic model cement: moderate toxicity Epoxy adhesive: uncured hardener: moderate to high toxicity. Uncured resin: low toxicity, primarily irritation and sensitization Adhesives, super glue: low toxicity, most difficulty occurs when eyelids become bonded together Artist's supplies (crayons, felt tip markers, pencils, water-based paints): low toxicity; however, may cause more than a mild mucous membrane and gastrointestinal irritation Petroleum-based paints: low toxicity, primary concern is possibility of aspiration information provided by Ralston Purina Company and National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois |
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