As Thanksgiving and the other year-end holidays bear down upon us, we have all sorts of advice about how to keep pets safe from the dangers of human food and festivities. Here?s a sampling:
FROM PETPLAN, A PET-INSURANCE COMPANY:
Just say ?no thanks?? to table scraps: Table scraps, turkey bones, gravy and sugary sides can lead to a visit to the vet. When it comes to mealtimes and treats at Thanksgiving, or any time of year, consistency and moderation are the orders of the day.
Bad to the bone: Leftovers ? especially bones from the finished feast ? should be carefully kept out of paw?s reach. Soft bones, like those in poultry, can splinter and cause obstructions in your pet?s digestive system. Resist the urge to throw your pet a bone, and be sure to take out the trash promptly.
Flower-power: Seasonal flora can spoil dinner, too. Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) can cause irritation, shock and organ damage if ingested in large amounts; likewise, Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), although less toxic, can cause mild vomiting, diarrhea and possibly depression. Use caution when selecting your holiday decor to ensure it doesn?t cause problems for curious pets.
Petplan offers pet-friendly Thanksgiving recipes including appetizer (seasonal crudite with peanut butter), entree (turkey pie) and dessert (sweet potato cookies). These vet-authored recipes are available at the Vets for Pets blog. gopetplan.com/blog
FROM NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERS:
Reduce stress
?Maintain pets? regular exercise and feeding routines during the holiday.
?Exercise dogs shortly before a party.
?Provide a private room or area where pets can retreat.
?During a busy party or day, a pet placed outdoors (including by a well-meaning guest), can be forgotten and become too cold. Make sure someone is assigned to check on each pet during regular intervals.
?Dogs should be trained on how to greet guests. When greeting guests at the door, consider placing dogs on a leash.
General tips
?Holiday plants with berries can be toxic, cause vomiting or worse, especially holly, mistletoe and poinsettias.
?Candles, incense and menorahs can all be dangerous to pets. Keep them out of reach of pets or have them supervised when lighted.
?Potpourri and tobacco products left out can be toxic to pets.
?Be careful how you attach costumes to pets. Pets can choke on rubber bands, string, ropes and ribbons. These items can also cause discomfort if put on too tight or left on too long.
?Chocolates can be toxic and fatal to pets; forgo nice displays of chocolates if they will be unattended and easily accessible to pets.
?Provide healthy treats for guests to give pets.
?Guests should be prepared by letting them know you have a pet or pets, and providing a few simple tips on invitations, such as ?Please don?t feed Whiskers, or leave food or beverages where she can reach them,? or ?Please stay with children when greeting and playing with Dusty,? or ?Please let us know if you?re bringing a pet.?
Thanksgiving
?Keep lids on garbage cans and keep them secure when no one is in the kitchen. Animals can smell treats from the next room!
?Don?t leave alcoholic beverages unattended.
Christmas
?Secure trees to both the floor and ceiling, if possible, to prevent them from falling.
?Pine needles can choke and puncture intestines. If you have a live tree, consider how you deal with this common problem.
?Consider what ornaments you will place on more reachable low-hanging branches. Place ornaments with string hangers rather than metal hooks down low.
?Food on Christmas trees can tempt your pets. Consider whether hanging candy canes, ginger bread, popcorn or cranberries is a good idea.
?Make sure pets cannot get at the water in the tree base. Tree water can contain fertilizers and bacteria.
?Tinsel is attractive to pets and can block intestines or choke; consider an alternative decoration.
?The holidays bring increased use of electrical cords, which can be chewed through and cause electrocution. Tape them over, put them under rugs, or spray them with a non-toxic, bad-tasting ingredient, such as Bitter Apple.
?Many children?s toys have small parts, which can be seen by pets as enticing play toys. Children should know the harm that can come to the family pet if they don?t pick up and put away all of the pieces of their games and toys.
FROM LORI PASTERNAK OF HELPING HANDS AFFORDABLE VETERINARY SURGERY AND DENTAL CARE:
Gift wrap: When it?s time to pull all the gifts out of hiding to be wrapped, take care that your pet isn?t in the room as you spread out all the wrapping paper, bows and ribbons. If a cat should starting gnawing on the ribbon, it will literally ?stitch? the cat?s intestines together as it is being passed through the gut. Surgery is one holiday gift you don?t want to give your family pet.
FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES:
?If you are planning to take your pet with you when visiting friends and relatives, contact them in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. Because of the excitement during the holidays, it might be best to board your pet or hire a reputable pet sitter instead.
?When traveling with your pet, attach tags with contact information for your mobile phone, as well as a phone number for where you are staying.
?If you leave your pet at home with a pet sitter, ask for references, plus written proof that he or she is bonded and has commercial liability insurance.
?If you are leaving your pet at a boarding kennel, visit the kennel ahead of time to make sure that it?s clean, comfortable, and safe for your pet.
?Humans are not the only ones who will be thankful at Thanksgiving. Shelter pets would be thankful for a new home and family to share their lives with this holiday season. Visit?The Pet Shelter Project website ?theshelterpetproject.org to search for a pet, find local shelters and learn more about adoption.
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