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Holiday Hazards
| Be
careful how you deck your halls! The holiday season is generally
a time of familytogetherness 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 insure 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 catch in the GI tract, leading to bunching
of intestine as the body tries in vain to move the string or
ribbon through. This is a life-threatening condition requiring
surgery for correction. Supervise animals who play with string
closely. |
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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.
CHOCOLATE
Many
people do not realize that chocolate can be a poison. Unsweetened
baking chocolate carries a much higher dose of the toxin "theobromine"
than does milk chocolate, but even normal 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. Read
More
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 especially 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 burned from spillage.
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
become inflamed and overloaded. This condition is serious and may
require hospitalization
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