Easy Tips for A Pet-Safe Holiday Season
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Easy Tips for a Pet-Safe Holiday Season There’s nothing more scrumptious than gathering with friends and family for the holidays, but many of the ingredients in human fun can result in distress for pets. As we kick off this season of lights, parties and yummy treats, the ASPCA wants to remind pet parents of the potential hazards certain goodies and décor can pose to our furry friends. |
“As you prepare for your holiday celebrations,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Animal Health Services, “remember to be wary of foods and traditions that can bring potential dangers to companion animals.” In honor of the joyous season to come, ASPCA poison control experts offer these essential tips for having pets at the party in a safe way: Avoid Too Much of a Good Thing While the holidays are a time for giving, there are some foods you should not share with your furry friends. A taste of mashed potato or a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, alcoholic beverages, coffee, onions, fatty foods, yeast dough and macadamia nuts can all lead to stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. A special no-no is chocolate, which if ingested can lead to death. And you may want to skip sharing the turkey—poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages.
Put the Meds Away
That Holiday Glow
Decorations Can Be Dangerous
Go Tinsel-less
Forgo the Flowers
Oh, Christmas Tree
New Year’s Noise
Holiday Travel
If your dog or cat accidentally ingests any potentially harmful products and you need emergency advice, please consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee applies) or www.aspca.org/apcc. Posted: Just One More Pet Related: Sharing Thanksgiving With Your Pets A Poison Safe Home – Some Tips For the Holidays and All Year Round |
A Poison Safe Home – Some Tips For the Holidays and All Year Round
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
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Alcoholic beverages
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Avocado
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Chocolate (all forms)
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Coffee (all forms)
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Fatty foods
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Macadamia nuts
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Moldy or spoiled foods
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Onions, onion powder
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Raisins and grapes
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Salt
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Yeast dough
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Garlic
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Products sweetened with xylitol
Warm Weather Hazards
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Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
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Blue-green algae in ponds
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Citronella candles
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Cocoa mulch
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Compost piles Fertilizers
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Flea products
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Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
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Swimming-pool treatment supplies
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Fly baits containing methomyl
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Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde
Medication
Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:
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Pain killers
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Cold medicines
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Anti-cancer drugs
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Antidepressants
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Vitamins
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Diet Pills
Cold Weather Hazards
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Antifreeze
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Liquid potpourri
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Ice melting products
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Rat and mouse bait
Common Household Hazards
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Fabric softener sheets
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Mothballs
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Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)
Holiday Hazards
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Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
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Electrical cords
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Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
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Batteries
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Glass ornaments
Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats
The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:
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Water-based paints
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Toilet bowl water
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Silica gel
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Poinsettia
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Cat litter
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Glue traps
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Glow jewelrySource: ASPCA – Posted: Just One More Pet