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Wednesday, December 2, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Keep the holidays
safe for your dog
It’s time for holiday par-
ties, preparing dinners, and
setting out the holiday deco-
rations and Christmas tree.
There are suddenly a lot of
potential hazards revealed to
your dog, especially if he is
a puppy.
One of the best parts
about the holidays is all the
wonderful food! Remember
that dogs have an exceptional
sense of smell, and your
dog’s nose knows what’s
cooking and he may even
beg for some of the delicious
food that you are preparing.
In order to keep Rover
safe and healthy during this
time of year you’ll need to
make sure that he stays away
from those tempting foods
and beverages.
Rich, fatty foods like
ham, gravy, or grease can
cause problems ranging from
stomach upsets to pancreati-
tis, which is an inflammation
of the pancreas resulting in
pain, vomiting, and dehydra-
tion. Pets with this serious
condition often require hos-
pitalization for treatment.
Bones, especially turkey
bones, are never a good snack
for Rover. Dogs can choke on
the sharp little edges, or the
bones can become lodged or
splinter in the digestive tract.
Chocolate and cocoa con-
tain theobromine, which is a
chemical that is highly toxic
to dogs. Ingestion in even
small amounts can cause
vomiting and diarrhea, and
in large amounts it can cause
seizures and can be fatal.
Keep your dog away from
nuts, especially almonds,
walnuts, and pistachios, they
can cause stomach upset.
Macadamia nuts can be toxic
to dogs!
The holidays should be a
happy time for you and your
furry friend, not a time for
an emergency visit to your
veterinarian.
As you get ready for the
holidays, it’s important to
keep your pet’s eating and
exercise habits as close to the
normal routine as possible.
With some advance plan-
ning and a little prevention,
you can make things more
festive for Rover and less
stressful for you!
If you don’t want your
dog to feel left out and you
want to give your dog some-
thing special, buy or bake
him some special healthy
dog treats shaped like candy
canes or Christmas trees.
Holiday plants may be
beautiful to look at, but one
easy way to keep your pooch
safe during the holidays is
to avoid bringing mistletoe,
holly, poinsettias and lilies
into your home. They can
lead to serious health prob-
lems if your furry friend
decides to chew on one.
There’s nothing like a
real Christmas tree during
the holidays. The pine fra-
grance is so appealing. Your
furry friends think so, too.
Yet Christmas trees are con-
sidered to be mildly toxic. Fir
tree oils can be irritating to
the mouth and stomach. Both
live and artificial tree needles
are sharp and indigestible. If
you have a live Christmas
tree, avoid adding fertilizer
or aspirin to the water (both
are dangerous to your dog).
Keep your dog away from
the water that’s keeping your
tree fresh; even stagnant
water that’s in the reservoir
could make him sick.
Unfortunately some dogs,
especially puppies, like to
chew on electrical cords,
which can lead to electrical
shock, burns, or possible
death. So check your holi-
day lights frequently for any
signs of chewing. And turn
the lights off and unplug
them when you are not home.
Those stunning Christmas
ornaments, sparkling ici-
cles, and shiny garland may
look pretty, but they can be
a source of danger to your
curious pooch. When deco-
rating your tree with lights
keep them at the top of the
tree, away from Rover. Avoid
using glass ornaments. They
can break easily and cut your
dog’s mouth or paws.
Stay away from edible
decorations such as cranberry
or popcorn strings — these
traditional strands will be too
tempting for Rover to ignore!
Part of the fun of
Christmas is to place beau-
tifully wrapped gifts cov-
ered with bows and ribbons
under the tree. But your curi-
ous furry friend may decide
your gifts could make great
chew toys, which could pose
a choking hazard or end up
obstructing the intestines.
Nowhere does the average
family dog get into so much
trouble as at the front door!
Guests do have to knock to
be known, and your dog just
might love to door-dash with
over-the-top excitement.
If you haven’t had time to
train for all the comings and
goings at the door, it’s always
photo by Jodi Schneider McnaMee
autumn enjoys the holidays.
good practice to either have
your furry friend crated or
provided with a quiet place to
retreat during the festivities.
Make sure Rover has his own
safe area with fresh water, a
few treats, and toys.
So now you can relax and
enjoy the festivities of the
holiday knowing that you’re
taking good care of your
furry friend. Once you know
the hazards, a little care and
precaution will go a long way
to keep the holidays a safe
and happy time for everyone.
If you think your dog has
come into contact with some-
thing poisonous, contact your
veterinarian immediately or
call the Pet Poison Helpline
at 1-800-213-6680.
Raise a Paw for Furry Friends!
Pet Photos with Santa!
Saturday, Dec. 5 • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
S
Inside the Maida Bailey building on Spruce,
located behind the Sisters Chamber offi ce.
dog, with Santa
Miss Abby, Fu rry Friends’ Spokes-
Also … Furry Friends Foundation, 501(c)(3),
needs your support to feed Sisters-area
pets this holiday! Please consider
a donation of dry pet-food (dog
or cat). Dog biscuits and cat
ation at…
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treats are also needed.
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Cash donations welcome!
The Nug
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Make checks payable to
442 E. Main
to
Furry Friends Foundation.
or mail a check
The pet-food will be
undation
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distributed in conjunction
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Holiday Food Share program
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to help Sisters-area families.
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