Holiday Hazards Keeping Pets Safe
By: Big 2 News Staff
Updated: December 20, 2011
The Humane Society is offering some tips to keep your pets happy
and health this holiday season.
Many pet owners don't
know the hidden dangers in holiday treats and trimmings.
According to the
humane society, human foods, fed even in small amounts, can cause
stomach upset in pets, or in certain instances, result in severe
problems. Some popular holiday treats that can cause harm to your
pet include:
- Chocolate - Baked goods and candies containing chocolate are potentially lethal if ingested by pets. Baking ingredients like baking cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate can be more dangerous to pets than the finished product they go into.
- Foods your pet isn't used to - Avoid feeding your pet anything they aren't used to eating. Just because your pet regularly enjoys certain items from one food group does not mean they can safely eat everything else from that same group. For instance, even if your pets are accustomed to eating chicken, turkey can still make them sick.
- Poultry and ham bones - Chicken and turkey bones are hollow and shatter easily, causing little shards to possibly get caught in your pet's throat, cause an obstruction, or even perforate through the lining of the stomach or intestine.
- Be sure to secure your Christmas tree so it doesn't fall over onto your pet. Stagnant tree water can also cause nausea or diarrhea, if ingested by your pet
- Make sure burning candles are out of reach. Pets could burn themselves or knock one over, starting a fire
- It's not uncommon for pets to become easily frightened and stressed during the commotion of holiday gatherings or loud fireworks on New Year's Eve. Consider keeping your pet in a quiet area away from the festivities.
