Pets can't take part in all of our holiday celebrations
The Christmas season surrounds us with traditions and memories. One of our family traditions includes decorating the top two thirds of our Christmas tree. The bottom third has lights but has no ornaments.
Although moving slower at 19 years of age, our cat Nutmeg is still fascinated by the shiny orbs that swing and sway when he paws at them. He still lays in his spot on the floor under the tree and surveys the living room. In the spirit of holiday traditions, Nutmeg even plays a few games of "hide and seek" under the tree with our dog.
As we decorate, bake, visit and celebrate during the holidays, it's good to remember some of our holiday festivities can be hazardous to our pets.
According to Dr. Steven Marks, chief of small animal medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, "Having pets around during holidays is like having small children around - you have to think of all the things they can get into."
Many animal organizations and agencies offer holiday safety tips for our pets, including The ASPCA, the AHA, Dr. Steven Marks of the U of I and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Dr. Marks notes, "Animals shouldn't eat foods during the holidays that they don't eat normally."
According to the ASPCA, our companion animals face serious consequences if they ingest chocolate: "In any form, ranging from one-ounce baking squares to hand dipped truffles, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines, that can cause stimulation of the central nervous system, an increase in heart rate and tremors."
Other foods are also dangerous to pets. Onions are toxic, inhibiting an animal's ability to coagulate blood. Holiday foods such as turkey, ham and other fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, resulting in stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea.
If your pet gets a stomach ache that doesn't improve in 24 hours, contact your veterinarian. Grapes and raisins can lead to loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and acute renal failure in dogs. Sugar-free sweets containing xylitol can make dogs ill. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports a link appears to exist between xylitol ingestion and liver failure in dogs.
If you suspect your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call your veterinarian, your local emergency animal hospital or the APCC's emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hour assistance.
Holiday decorations may also pose a danger to our companion animals. Since cats love to climb trees, subsequently knocking them down, and dogs like to chew wires (our cat has also been known to chew wires), our Christmas trees may attract our companion animals.
Moving the wires out of reach or out of view will reduce the attraction. With the Christmas tree sitting on a flat, wide base, common practice is to anchor the tree with fishing line tied to a drapery rod or a ceiling or wall hook.
If your Christmas tree sits in a pan of water, the water may contain preservatives. Using a tree skirt may limit the possibility of pets drinking the tree water and reduce the chances of him getting stomach problems.
Dr. Marks notes tinsel, garlands, ribbons, and other strings are particularly attractive to cats and pose a strangulation risk if they get wrapped around a pet's neck. If strings are swallowed, they can cause a serious blockage in the intestines, since they will not pass easily through the digestive system.
Plastic or mylar gift wrap, mylar balloons and plastic bags can become a suffocation hazard if left lying around. Cleaning up immediately after wrapping or opening gifts removes this hazard.
We also need to think of our pets during holiday parties and festivities. To reduce their anxiety and to keep them safe, separate them from the party in another room. Opening and closing doors with visitors coming and going provides an opportunity for a pet to get out of the house. This might be a good time to make sure your pets are wearing a current ID tag and are microchipped.
As you plan your holiday celebrations and outings with your family, include a visit to the Buddy Foundation Shelter. You can see the Spirit of Giving and Kindness taking place in real time, every day of the year.
The Buddy Foundation Holiday Raffle is in full swing. Our Holiday Raffle is very important to us because it is one of our main fundraisers for the year. Our recent medical expenses for our animals for just the last 3.5 months have totaled more than $43,000.
Buy one or several raffle tickets. They are only $2 each (all donations are tax deductible in accordance with IRS 501(C)(3). Prizes include a Bernette (Bernina) Sewing Machine, golf for four, and Chicago Bagel & Bialy II dozen bagels a month for a year and gift certificates to Harry Caray's and Real Time Sports.
The drawing will be Jan. 3. Call the shelter for tickets and more information, (847) 290-5806.
Adoptables
• Cher is a female terrier mix. She's about 8 months old and weighs about 15 pounds.
• Tyson is a male Jack Russell terrier. He's about 7 years old.
• Walker is a male American fox hound mix. He's around 3 years old and weighs about 70 pounds.