Help enjoy the holidays with your animal companion by following these easy safety tips.

Keep all tinsel and ribbon out of reach of that frisky feline friend. The feline tongue has small barbs which ribbon and tinsel may stick to, often preventing the feline from spitting it out, and in turn causing it to be ingested. The tinsel or ribbon may then get wrapped around vital organs cutting off circulation to these organs or causing an intestinal blockage.

Keep all hazardous plants away from that curious cat. Some popular Holiday plants which are harmful to dogs and cats are the Poinsettia, Mistletoe, and American Holly. While not lethal if ingested, these plants can cause serious irritation in the gastro-intestinal tract of your pet.

As much as we all love to have our furry friends join in the feast during the holidays, there are some foods which do much more harm than good. Refrain from feeding your pets fatty table foods, as they often causes gastrointestinal upset, and may lead to pancreatitis. Also, never give a dog any whole animal bones to chew on. These bones have been known to get caught in the throat, or splinter, and get caught in the gastrointestinal tract.

Uncooked Yeast dough can actually rise in your pet’s stomach, which can cause considerable abdominal pain, vomiting, and depression. This can also potentially cause alcohol poisoning due to the fact that alcohol is a breakdown product of rising yeast.

It is very important to keep all alcoholic beverages out of your pets reach. Alcohol ingestion can cause problems ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, coma and in some cases, death.

Some other toxic foods to keep away from your pet are: Chocolate (which contains caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine), Coffee (toxic doses of caffeine), and in large doses onions, grapes, and raisins are also toxic to your pet.

ADDITIONAL WINTER WARNINGS FOR YOUR PET

Keep all antifreeze on high shelves or locked cabinets away from your pet. Animals are attracted to its sweet taste and it is extremely toxic to both cats and dogs. The ingredient in antifreeze which causes it to be toxic is ethylene glycol. There is ethylene glycol free antifreeze now available.

Winter weather can be hazardous to our animal friends as well! Please keep your pets indoors during extreme cold weather. Cats and dogs can easily develop hypothermia (low body temperature) and develop frostbite just like you and I! If your pet is housed outside during mild winter weather; heated floor mats, or nonelectric warm bedding may be purchased for your pets outdoor housing at several pet stores. Do not use any heat lamps or electrical devices in your pets outdoor shelter, as it may cause a fire. Also, check the paws of your dog or cat when coming indoors. This time of year there are many ice melting products, such as salts on the ground, and these may be irritating to the feet and mouth of your pet if licked off during grooming.

Share this information with friends and family to keep all of our animal friends safe this Holiday season. If you or someone you know believes that their animal is in need of immediate medical attention, Please call VESCONE at 781.684.8387. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.