Holiday Hazards For Cats And Dogs

Are you the owner of a dog or a cat? Are you currently getting ready for the holidays? Holidays can be a fun and exciting time for each member of your family, including your furry four-legged ones. Unfortunately, the holidays can also be full of danger for your beloved pets. To keep them out of harm's way, you need to know what to watch out for so that you can remove and eliminate the dangers. Here are some of the most important dangers to watch out for this holiday season:

Turkey: In moderation, small bites of turkey meat can be a great reward for either your cat or your dog. The trouble comes when you start giving your pet the turkey pieces that you don't want to eat. Turkey skin can cause a dangerous condition called pancreatitis in both cats and dogs. This potentially life-threatening condition can occur when the food that your pet eats is richer in fats than normal. Turkey bones are another danger for your pet. The bones of birds, such as turkeys or chickens, are hollow and brittle when cooked. When your pet chews on them, they can splinter into sharp pieces that can pierce your pet's digestive tract. Either of these scenarios can result in a late-night trip to your local emergency vet for treatment, possibly including surgery.

Tinsel: Tinsel or fake icicles can be a beautiful decoration during the holiday season. But the glittering appearance of the materials involved also makes tinsel an attractive toy to pets. This is true of both dogs and cats, but especially cats. Once your pet has "caught" the tinsel, he or she may then decide to eat some or all of it. The long, thin, tinsel can then cause internal injuries as it is dragged through your pet's digestive tract. In order to try to save your dog or cat, your emergency vet would have to operate on your pet to remove the tinsel that may have wrapped itself around your pet's internal organs.

Holiday plants: Although poinsettia plants are actually relatively innocuous, despite common belief, there are other holiday plants that can result in a trip to the emergency vet. Both holly and mistletoe plants can poison your pets if consumed. To keep your furry friends safe, stick to artificial versions of these holiday classics. If it doesn't feel the same without hanging real mistletoe, however, consider placing the sprig into a clear sandwich bag before hanging it up. If any of the mistletoe berries fall, they will then be contained within the bag, and your pet won't be able to eat them.

For more information, contact an emergency vet at a location such as 1st Pet Veterinary Centers.