Wednesday, November 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Keep your pets safe
this holiday season
The holiday season is upon
us, and many pet parents plan
to include their furry friends
in the festivities.
With some planning and a
little training, you can make
things more festive for Rover
and Kitty and less stressful
for you. Keep in mind that
pets are sensitive to changes
in their environment and rou-
tines. Especially around the
holidays when family mem-
bers take off from school,
houseguests come to stay, or
other visitors roll through the
house in droves.
You need to stick as
closely as possible to your
pets’ routines — regular meal
schedules, walks and play
sessions.
One of the best parts about
the holidays is all the wonder-
ful food! From turkey to ham
and rich chocolate desserts,
holiday foods are a popu-
lar part of the celebrations.
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 deli-
cious-smelling food that you
are preparing.
But remember, 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 tempt-
ing foods and beverages.
Did you know that rich,
fatty foods like ham, gravy,
or grease, can cause problems
ranging from stomach upsets
to pancreatitis, which is an
inflammation of the pancreas
resulting in pain, vomiting,
and dehydration? Pets with
this serious condition often
require hospitalization 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 also 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.
If you don’t want your dog
to feel left out and you want
to give him something spe-
cial, 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
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to avoid bringing mistletoe,
holly, poinsettias, and lilies
into your home. They can lead
to serious health problems if
your furry friend decides to
chew on one.
There’s nothing like a real
Christmas tree during the
holidays. The pine fragrance
is so appealing. Your furry
friends think so, too.
Did you know that
Christmas trees are consid-
ered to be mildly toxic?
Fir tree oils can be irritat-
ing to the mouth and stom-
ach. 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). Just be sure to
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.
Holiday decorations are
meant to spark wonder, curi-
osity, and delight: which can
spell trouble for pets. So,
before you hang your pre-
cious glass ornaments or
wrap all your presents with
fun-looking but dangerous
ribbons, consider putting
them out of reach of your dog
or cat. Hang your tree deco-
rations up higher and leave
the ribbon off the presents or
put them out of reach. All that
glitters is not gold, and tinsel,
especially if you’re a pet par-
ent to a cat, is a real tempta-
tion to Kitty because it’s spar-
kly and fun to bat around. But
ingestion can obstruct your
pet’s GI tract and you may
end up with a blockage, and a
trip to the veterinarian.
Unfortunately, some dogs,
especially puppies, like to
chew on electrical cords
which can lead to electri-
cal 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
whenever you are not home.
Candles can also be attrac-
tive to pets because of their
scent. Make sure they are
perched on high shelves or
tables out of Rover’s reach.
Never leave a lit candle unsu-
pervised as they are easily
knocked over and quickly
become a fire hazard.
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 Rover loves to
door dash with over-the-top
excitement that can make the
front door a source of stress
for everyone during the holi-
days. If you haven’t had time
to train for all the comings
and goings at the door, it’s
always good practice to either
have your furry friend crated
or provided with a quiet
place to retreat during the
29
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
Mia is supervised through the
holiday season.
festivities. Cats also get over-
whelmed and over-stimulated
like dogs and kids. So, make
sure your furry friend whether
a dog or cat has his own safe
areas 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 pre-
caution will go a long way to
keep the holidays a safe and
happy time for everyone.
Happy Th a
nks
giving!
To our cus
t
omers, frie
nds & fam
from Don,
ily
Ta
mmy, Jenn
y & Rickie
INSURAN
CE OF SIS
A member
of Fullhart
Insurance
TERS
Agency, In
c.
An indepen
insurance dent
agen
representin cy
Safeco, Ore g
g
Mutual, L on
iberty
Mutual, P
emco
and others.
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