Pet

— La'NA'

A long to-do list and the holiday season generally go hand in hand.  In noting the all-important details, we need to remember an essential task:  pet proofing the home.  The overall effort will be small in comparison to how much we will protect our furry friends from real dangers.

Seasonal plants, for instance, present many potential hazards, including stomach upset with vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.

• Lilies are among the most dangerous variety.  Stargazer and Easter lilies, in fact, can cause kidney failure in cats.
• Poinsettias can irritate the mouth and stomach.  Diarrhea and vomiting are other side effects.  Keep your poinsettias away from chewers—especially puppies.
• Mistletoe in large quantities can lead to heart problems, liver failure and seizures.  Always hang mistletoe high.

Also, keep your Christmas tree water covered.  It might look refreshing to your pet, but the water could contain fertilizers and bacteria, which trigger vomiting and diarrhea.

In addition to the plants, decorations should also require our attention.  When animals bite into Christmas tree lights, they often receive terrible burns.  They can further become electrocuted and suffer pulmonary edema (fluid-filled lungs).  Take extra precautions if you have a teething kitten or puppy.

Other decorative elements to consider are tinsel and ribbons.  Cats love to play with shimmering, dangling items, and they tend to ingest them as well.  A small piece can wrap around the tongue or get trapped in the stomach.  Normal x-rays often cannot detect such fibers, so an ultrasound must be performed.  Surgery, too, may be necessary.  If you happen to notice that your pet is attempting to pass a string during a bowel movement, see your vet immediately.  Please do not attempt to pull it out; tugging could inflict serious damage to the intestines.

We should also be mindful of what we feed our pets. I homecook our dogs food, under the guidance of her veterinarian, which is a specific diet to meet her nutritional needs . Many foods we enjoy, like chocolate and onions, are toxic to pets.  Turkey and chicken bones, which splinter, can be dangerous as well.    Your pooch might pout, but putting only his food in his bowl could save him from severe stomach distress and even surgery.

One more point:  Keep you pets in mind when making out your gift list.  They are the easiest to please after all.

(more…)