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The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2006
Ten tips offered on keeping pets safe during holiday festivities
Here are 10 ways to keep
your pets safe during all of the
holiday festivities:
• The New Pet. Holidays are
not the best time to introduce a
new pet to the household. All
the excitement, noise and devi-
ation from the normal routine
could make it difficult for a new
pet — and any existing pets —
to make the adjustment.
• Pets as Gifts. Consider se-
riously the choice to give a pet
as a gift. One of the main rea-
Have a Happy
and Healthy
Holiday Season
sons animals are abandoned or
taken to shelters is because
they are unwanted. Don’t con-
tribute to this situation by giving
a pet to someone who may not
want it or be able to care for it.
If you do choose to give a pet
as a gift, allow the recipient(s)
to select the pet so they can
find one that is right for them.
• Treats and Chocolate.
Keep holiday treats and can-
dies out of your pet’s reach as
they can make your pet quite
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sick. Chocolate, particularly bit-
tersweet and baking chocolate,
can be toxic to dogs. If your
dog eats chocolate, call your
veterinarian or an animal poi-
son control center immediately:
ASPCA’s Poison Control Hot-
line (888-426-4435, $55 fee) or
Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-
6680, $35 fee).
• Leftovers. Don’t feed your
pet holiday turkey or chicken,
as the small bones or frag-
ments can lodge in the throat,
stomach, or intestinal tract. At
the very least, too much human
food may give your pet an up-
set stomach.
• Guests. Pets can become
overexcited, confused or fright-
ened by holiday guests. Keep
pets in a quiet part of the
house. When guests are over,
watch for open doors and make
sure your pets have ID tags on
them in case they do get out.
Remind guests that your nor-
mally friendly pet may want to
be left alone.
• Tree. Make sure your tree
is well secured. Avoid adding
preservatives, aspirin or sugar
to your tree’s water, or keep the
water covered. Tidy up around
your tree and wreaths as sharp
pine needles can puncture your
pet if ingested.
• Decorations. Sharp or
breakable ornaments and drei-
dels should be kept out of
reach of pets, as should tinsel,
string, and ribbon. If your pet in-
gests any of these items, it
could experience serious inter-
nal injuries, or worse. Light
strands, loose wires and elec-
tric cords can be a serious haz-
ard to your pet, especially pup-
pies, who may chew them.
• Plants. Mistletoe and holly
are poisonous and should be
kept out of reach of pets. If eat-
en, poinsettia plants can cause
severe gastrointestinal upset. A
list of other poisonous plants
can be found at http://www.ore-
gonvma.org/petowners/plants.
asp.
• Candles. Never leave can-
dles unattended, especially
around puppies and kittens.
• Stress. The holidays can
be a stressful time for every-
one, even your pets. Even
though your routine might
change, try to keep your pets
on their normal routine of feed-
ing and exercise.
The Oregon Veterinary Med-
ical Association is a nonprofit
organization of veterinarians
who are dedicated to helping
people give their animals a high
quality of life.