Pet safety a must during the holiday season

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The holiday season is a holly, jolly time for the entire family, including your furry family members. Unfortunately, a sick pet can quickly take the ho ho ho right out of your celebration.

Many families already have decked the halls with a variety of decorations and planned holiday parties, so it is important to steer pets clear of toxic plants, potentially dangerous decorations and unhealthy foods, said Gina Peek, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension housing and consumer specialist.

“For many people, the Christmas tree is the center piece of their holiday decorations. However, blinking lights and shiny ornaments can be quite enticing to your pets, especially cats,” Peek said. “It’s a good idea to securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t fall prey to a cat attack. This will help prevent precious ornaments from being broken, as well as injury to your pet or people in your home.”

Anchoring the tree also will prevent the tree water from spilling and being easily accessible to your pet. The water, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria, may contain fertilizers to extend the life of the tree. A pet that ingests this water can end up with nausea or diarrhea.

Keep your pets away from the strings of lights because even one bite on a wire can deliver a potentially deadly electric shock. The same is true for the extension cords being used to plug in other decorations.

Exposed cords from electric lights can cause electrocution or oral burns if chewed. Pet owners can do a Google search for “protect pets from electric cords” for a variety of unique solutions.

Everyone likes to receive holiday gifts, and pet owners like to include their furry friends by giving them gifts. When choosing gifts for your pets, make sure the gifts are safe.

“Avoid selecting pet toys with loose parts, ribbons or yarn,” she said. “These things can come off the toy and get lodged in your pet’s intestines, which will likely require surgery to remove. Instead, choose healthy foods and chewy treats that are designed to be safely digestible.”

No holiday season is complete without guests coming over to celebrate. These celebrations typically include special foods and beverages.

Chocolate, foods sweetened with xylitol, as well as fatty and spicy foods must be off limits to your pets, said Dr. Elisabeth Giedt, director of Continuing Education, Extension and Community Engagement at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at OSU.

“When the party is over, make sure to clean up all the dishes and put the food away. It also is a good idea to take the garbage out so pets will not be tempted to any dumpster diving while you are asleep,” Giedt said. “If your celebration includes adult beverages, be sure to place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them.”

Although holiday plants such as mistletoe and holly are popular decorations, use them with caution. Holly can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, while mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems.

Not only are special holiday foods and decorations dangerous for pets, so are medications. If you have guests staying in your home who are taking medication, Giedt recommends encouraging your guests to keep all medicines zipped in their suitcase.

Giedt said the Pet Poison Helpline^®, http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com, has a number of recommendations for creating a hazard-free household for the holidays.

“Our pets are a big part of the family and we want to include them in all of our special events,” Peek said. “A little extra planning will help ensure both you and your pets have a safe holiday season.”