Mad For Pets.com - Holiday Safety

It’s a busy time and often we overlook our pets’ needs during the frantic preparations for our family’s enjoyment, leaving them susceptible to harm. Remember... our pets are part of our family! Extra care should be taken at these times so that we relieve their anxieties and keep curious noses out of harm’s way. Be extra protective of your pets during the holidays.

BASIC SAFETY TIPS:
During the holiday season, keep your pet out of the kitchen while you are preparing the "big" meal. You don’t want to be tripping over your "little or big pal" causing an accident to you both. And with all the commotion of guests coming in and out of your home during the holidays make sure your pet is wearing proper identification! A lost pet during the holidays is no fun.

Food – If you won’t eat it, your pet shouldn’t either! Resist giving your pet foods that are too rich, fatty or spicy which will upset its stomach or possibly trigger worse problems. A small portion of beef or poultry as a holiday treat is quite acceptable but don’t make a habit of slipping your pet little tidbits as it can lead to poor eating habits and also encourages begging which is an annoying habit to break. Try to keep your pet on its regular diet and ask your guests to resist handing them a "little" treat. Explain to children that candy can be harmful and make a pet sick. If you want to treat your pets, stock up on dog biscuits or catnip toys.

Chocolate – can be poison to your pet. It is toxic. Signs of chocolate poisoning are; hyper excitability, nervousness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Candies – keep them out of reach of all pets. The foil wrappers can cause internal injuries if swallowed.

Alcohol - Alcoholic drinks can also be hazardous to pets. Some friends might think it’s funny to slip your pet some of their alcoholic drink, but you won’t think it’s funny when your pet passes out, is vomiting or has diarrhea. Please remind guests that alcohol is for them only.

Candles – Be careful of your placement of candles. Wagging tails can easily knock them over, slipping hot wax onto your carpet and furniture or even worse your pet could sustain a serious burn or start a fire.

Plants – Pets may think that holiday plants look good enough to eat. But many plants can cause severe stomach problems. Plants to watch out for include: mistletoe, holly berries, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, hemlock, ivy, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis. Keep all of these plants out of your pets reach. You may also spray the plants leaves with "Bitter Apple" repellant. This may help keep your pets away from the plants. Also, pick up and toss any berries, leaves or stems that may have fallen off.

Decorations - Keep your pet away from potentially hazardous decorations. Hanging decorations, such as streamers, christmas lights, ribbon and tinsel can easily become tangled around your pet or if swallowed could cause serious digestive problems. And keep small decorations away from your pet, since they could cause choking.

Electrical Cords - Tack them down or cover them! If your pet bites through an electrical cord it could result in a severe tongue burn. This could lead to respiratory distress as the burn will cause the pet’s lung to fill with fluid.

Costumes - Make sure your pets costume is safe. Never leave your pet unsupervised in a costume. If you dress your pet in a costume, make sure that it is not unsafe or irritating them. A costume should not constrict movement or obstruct your pet's vision, hearing, or ability to breathe or bark. Reflective tape on a pets costume may be useful in helping others see your pet, above all if you plan on your pet being in his costume after dark. Also, check on the costume for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces that your pet could choke on or may cause harm. Some of these could be buttons, elastic or rubber bands. Keep in mind if you live in a warm climate that some costumes and the excitement could increase your pet's body temperature.

Fireplaces – We love to see our pets sitting in front of our fireplace keeping warm, but please beware. Ashes and popping wood could harm your best friend. Always keep a fire screen in front of your fireplace while in use and a second screen can help to keep your pet further away from sparks. Even when not in use, close metal and glass doors tightly, you don't want your pet playing in an ash filled fireplace.

Fireworks – Just as everyone loves fireworks, keep your pet well away from them. As fireworks are dangers for us humans the same goes for your best friend. Keep your pet on a leash so they don’t go running after the pretty lights.

Do not leave your pets outside unsupervised on and around Halloween, including your outdoor cat. Black cats especially. They may be at risk from kids playing pranks. Don’t forget that a black cat is a symbolism for Halloween. Some shelters will not adopt out black cats on Halloween as a safety precaution. As an alternative, keep your pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Your pets will be less frightened and will not feel threatened by noisy, costumed children.