Holiday Pet Safety--"Ask Zena" December 2009

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Ask Zena December 2009


Dear Zena:

We have a 7 month old Lab puppy and we are worried that the puppy will be very curious about the Christmas tree.  Our family usually puts up a real tree for the holidays, is this safe or are we better off getting a fake tree this year?  Are there any other hazards we should watch out for?

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Mary
Scottsville, NY


Dear Mary:

Great question!  Puppies can be very curious but even a pet who has never bothered the tree in the past can, without warning, decide to check out something interesting hanging from the tree.

This year should be interesting for our family also.  My little sister, Phoebe, is going to be almost 8 months old this Holiday season and this will be her first experience with a Christmas tree.  We will definitely be taking some extra precautions this year.  Just remember to please use caution and common sense with any pet this Holiday season.

Here are some safety tips to help keep your pets safe:

First, let's start with some tree safety precautions.

-  Pick a good place for your tree that is not in a high-traffic area.  A corner near an outlet is ideal so that the tree is out of the way and cords won't be lying around.

-  If you decide to have a real tree, prepare the area by placing a plastic sheet or tree bag under the tree so that at the end of the season you can pull the bag or sheet over the tree minimizing the amount of needles that can fall from the tree and prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your pet.  Make sure to sweep up needles often, ingestion of needles can cause vomiting, gastric irritation, and sometimes needles can even puncture holes in your pet's intestines.

-  Anchor your Christmas tree to the ceiling with fishing line (you won't see it) so that a rambunctious pet won't tip it over and be injured by the tree or broken ornaments.

-  Do not let your pet drink the water from the tree there may be fertilizers or bacteria in the water that will make your pet sick.  Check what preservatives are used and buy only those that are non-toxic. Also, please do NOT put aspirin in the tree water.  An option some people use is a screen to block off the area to the tree, cords and presents.

-  Buy shatterproof ornaments.  My mom bought all new shatterproof ornaments this year and we will keep the bottom branches clear of any ornaments that may tempt my sister Phoebe.  Last year we had a scare when my 2 year old human brother broke a glass ornament and it shattered all over the floor around him.  Mom feels it is just not worth it to worry about it so we will just avoid this whole entire situation.  Also, please do not use hooks on your ornaments, instead use string tied in a knot.

-  SKIP THE TINSEL!!!  There are so many other beautiful decorations out there to take the place of tinsel or even garland.  Ingestion of these materials can cause an intestinal obstruction that may require surgery.  Cats are especially attracted to the bright shiny tinsel so I say just skip it all together.

-  Hide the Cords!  Remember most puppies love to chew.  So, keep cords out of reach or purchase special cord covers that are available at most retailers.

-  Presents...Hide the presents until Christmas.  Pets do not know that they need to wait till Christmas to open the presents.  They are curious and unless you want presents opened or ruined you are better off hiding them away.  Pets can also eat the ribbon or sting on the presents, which is very dangerous.  My mom told me a very sad story about a friend of hers that placed a present from a friend under her tree not knowing that it was a box of chocolates.  Her dog found the present and ate the whole box of chocolates while she was out.  The dog did not make it.  Please do not take any chances.

-  Supervision.  This is the safest way to avoid hazards.  If at all possible do not let your pet near the tree unless supervised.

Here are some other hazards to watch out for:

-  Snow Globes.  Most are filled with anti-freeze, which is poisonous to pets.  Also, watch out for packaging such as Styrofoam, which causes a chocking hazard.  Snow spray can cause problems if inhaled or ingested.

-  Holiday Plants.  Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lillies, if ingested, can lead to health problems.

-  Small Toy Parts.  Put away toys after children open their gifts.  Small parts could be eaten by your pet.

-  Candles.  Keep candles high and out of reach to avoid burns or being knocked over.

-  Wipe Your Pet's Paws.  Ice melts and salts, if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal inflammation.  One way to prevent this from happening is to clean your pets feet when returning from a walk.

-  Anti-Freeze.  Unfortunately, ingestion of anti-freeze is very common in the winter months.  Do not let your pet drink from puddles and clean your pet's paws when coming in from the outdoors.  Anti-freeze has a sweet taste that attracts pets, but it is very toxic and can cause permanent kidney damage.

-  Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.  Not just for the obvious reasons but also for the fact that when the batteries start going bad these devices send out an alert or an alarm at a high frequency, which is very painful to your pet's ears.


Even after all the precautions are taken, you suspect your pet has ingested glass, broken plastic, staples or any other small, sharp object, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, you can call your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24 hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.  Make sure you keep all emergency numbers easily accessible, the last thing you want to do in an emergency is search for a phone number.

I hope this information help you and your pets enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

Keep the questions coming!   I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a fantastic New Year!

Sincerely,

Zena

Happy Holidays!