Dangerous Decadence: Seasonal Pet Hazards

The holiday season is fast approaching again!  Unfortunately, the statistics show that with the holidays, there is a corresponding increase in the number of pet hospitalizations due to easily avoidable holiday hazards.  Unexpected veterinary expenses can add up very quickly, and this can place undue stress on finances at an already crucial time of year.  Keep the holidays festive and avoid seasonal pet emergencies with a couple of tips from our friends at VPI® Pet Insurance:

Top 5 Most Dangerous Holiday Pet Hazards

Keep the holiday decorations out of reach, especially glass, metal, ribbons, tinsel and artificial snow.  If ingested, these items can cause anything from mouth trauma, to more severe/life threatening situations where surgical intervention is needed.

Beware of cold weather hazards.  Keep chemicals like rock salt out of reach.  Just one lick of antifreeze can be enough to kill!  Also, wiping your pets paws and undercarriage to remove harmful chemical residue after walks is important.  This is one time you don’t want them to clean up after themselves.

Keep table scraps … ON THE TABLE!  There is a reason your dog eats dog food … and your cat eats cat food.  Pet foods are specifically formulated to aid digestion.  Human foods are not processed to a level that they are used to.  Some human foods such as chocolate, uncooked raisins/grapes, onion, and avocado are toxic if ingested.  Yeast dough (raw) is very dangerous.  If ingested it will actually rise and ferment in the stomach possibly causing bloat and/or GDV.  GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) is a condition that requires surgical correction, otherwise prognosis is grave.  Other foods such as Macadamia nuts, and alcohol while less lethal can cause major discomfort, dysphoria, diarrhea and can put a serious damper on festivities.  If you suspect that your pet has ingested any of these products, call your veterinarian immediately, because there may be limited time to deal with the situation.  Fatty foods and foreign proteins (like turkey) can cause stomach problems as severe as pancreatitis.    This condition can lead to hospitalization and … very large vet bills!  Dispose of your bones properly … poultry bones in particular are dangerous because they splinter when chewed, and are famous for causing choking incidents, and or obstructions in the digestive tract.  Any of these things can lead to hospitalization and … very large vet bills!

Holiday plants can be extremely toxic and can cause wide ranging conditions from ulceration in the mouth to death!  Keep your holiday plants such as holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, and lilies high off the ground.  Christmas tree water can also be toxic if ingested.

Please have a safe and very happy holiday season, from all of us here at Arlington Animal Clinic, and VPI® Pet Insurance!