Holiday Health Tips

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It’s time for the holidays, and I would be remiss if I didn’t provide you with a list of safety tips to keep your pets healthy and happy this holiday season. Some of these are common knowledge, and some aren’t, but if they save you a trip to the emergency center on Christmas Day, then they were worth it.

• Chocolate is poisonous to animals. Period. Yes, I know that it if has a lot of sugar, nuts, caramel, etc. in it that it is less toxic. But it will still give them the runs. Don’t give it to them.
  
  
• Do not give alcohol to pets. Period (again). I don’t care how funny you think it is. It is dangerous and cruel, and it doesn’t take much to cause alcohol poisoning.
  
  
• If you have a cat, do not put icicle tinsel on your tree. This acts as a linear GI foreign body when they eat it, and it may need to be removed surgically. Thin ribbons can do this, too. Be careful.
  
  
• If you have any pets, do not put aspirin or Tylenol in the water in your Christmas tree stand. They drink this stuff, and it can be toxic to your pet.
  
  
• Pine needles aren’t poisonous, but they will make your cat throw up. They lend a little color to the typical holiday hairball. Don’t worry about it.
  
• Christmas paper does not protect edibles (and sometimes inedibles) from consumption. Dogs can smell very well, and they can chew very well, and they can get very sick after eating an entire package of Aunt Ruby’s rum balls.
  
  
• Take out the trash after a big holiday meal, so your pets won’t get in it. I have seen a large breed dog eat an entire turkey carcass. And they usually don’t stop with the bones, but will also eat the plastic or foil, too, if it has grease or drippings on it.
  
  
• If you have a cat, make sure that you Christmas tree is secured. Cats like to climb Christmas trees, and they can make them fall over. This is bad.
  
  
• If you have a pet bird, go sparingly on the scents and potpourris. These can be a severe respiratory irritant to them. Also make sure that your fireplace and space heaters are well-ventilated.
  
  
• Just because it’s Christmas, it doesn’t mean that your dog deserves table scraps. This will upset its stomach and, best case scenario, ruin the carpet. Go easy on the treats, too.
  
  
• Don’t forget that the water in your dog’s bowl can freeze outside. This makes it kind of hard to drink. If it’s that cold, Fido should be inside, anyway.
  
  
• Don’t put your dog in a silly sweater. The other dogs will make fun of him. Same goes for reindeer antlers.

If you do have an emergency during the holidays when your vet is closed, call the Animal Emergency Center at (901) 323-4563, or PetMed Emergency Center at (901) 624-9002. * Have a safe and happy holiday season!

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