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D'em bones, d'em bones!
The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your Pet. Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract. |
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Cut the fat
Those wonderful potato latkes, gravies, and poultry skin are high in fat and can cause severe gastrointestinal upset in Pets. If you want to treat your Pet, do it with a Pet treat rather than human food. |
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Keep Pets away from holiday plants
Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause severe gastric distress. With so many hybrid varieties available each year,
the best approach is to keep the plants out of your Pet's reach. |
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Secure electrical cords
Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way. |
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Watch lighted candles
Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is especially important if left at kitty's eye level or within puppy's chewing zone. An exuberant tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous. Anchor
candles securely and away from curious faces and feet. |
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Practice tree safety
Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a treeclimbing cat or large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using strong cord or rope. Clean up fallen pine needles that can be sharp enough to puncture your
Pet's intestines. Beware of preservatives often used in tree stand water that can cause gastric upsets. Avoid adding sugar or aspirin to the water. |
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Handle with care
Sharp or breakable ornaments, dreidels, and even aluminum foil should be kept out of reach. String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons, should be safeguarded at all costs. They are thin and sharp and can wrap around intestines or ball
up in the stomach. |
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Pets feel stress, too
If you have company coming over, beware of open doors and sneaky Pets. Make sure your Pets have collars and tags on in case of escape. Ask guests to keep an eye out for Pets under foot and remind them sometimes your normally friendly dog
or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people. Provide a quiet retreat with a blanket and fresh water for your Pets to relax to when the festivities get too stressful. |
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In the holiday spirit
Support Meals on Wheels recipients and Pets in Need by ordering your 2008 Season of Suppers calendar. View and order the calendar through the
Banfield Charitable Trust website.
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