As the holidays approach we would like to offer you some tips to keep your furry family members from getting sick.

Food Items that Could Cause Problems:

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
• Bones
• Food Scraps
• Fatty Foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Garlic, garlic powder
• Coffee (grounds, beans or chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Yeast dough
• Salt

Plants:

• Lillies - can cause kidney failure or death in cats
• Poinsettias - ingestion may cause vomiting or nausea
• Mistletoe - ingestion may cause stomach upset
• Holly - ingestion may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and lethargy.

The Christmas Tree:

• Christmas tree water - may contain fertilizers or bacteria which can lead to vomiting or diarrhea
• Electrical cords - If chewed on may electrocute your pet or your pet may ingest them.  If ingested the cord may need to be surgically removed.
• Ribbons and tinsel - can get caught in the intestines and cause an obstruction especially in cats.
• Glass Ornaments - can cut the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract if ingested
• Ornaments - can cause an obstruction if ingested.
• Batteries - if ingested corrosive agents can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.

Other Winter Hazards:

• Antifreeze - has a pleasant taste but is lethal in small amounts.  1 teaspoon or just licking its paws after walking through antifreeze can be deadly to a cat and 4 teaspoons can be deadly to a small dog.  Clean up spills promptly and keep the antifreeze stored in sealed contains in a place inaccessible to pets.  Contact us immediately if you think your pet has ingested antifreeze.
• Liquid potpourris - exposure to some types can cause sever oral, skin and eye damage.
• Ice melting products - can irritate skin and mouth.  Some types may cause drooling, depression, vomiting or electrolyte imbalances if ingested.

This list contains some of the items that may cause harm to your pet during this holiday and winter season.  While we love your business, we like to see happy and healthy pets.  Please do your part to keep your pet healthy this season.  In the event that something does happen, please call us as soon as you can.