Pet owners: note hazards
Editor:
Holiday mistletoe, holly and poinsettia should send a “red alert” to pet owners
At this time of the year, family bustles in, carrying a flowering red poinsettia. You take great care in positioning the plant and find the perfect spot in the dining room where Buster, the cat, has his window seat.
Holiday guests coo and chuckle as Buster digs, sniffs, and bites at the prized plant. Later in the day, however, Buster refuses to eat. A rash has developed in and around the cat’s mouth.
Cats and dogs should not be allowed to come in contact with holiday mistletoe, holly or poinsettia. Attractive as they may be, these traditional holiday plants cause a lot of illness among pets this time of year.
A trip to the veterinarian is what awaits a pet that has been poisoned by a holiday plant. Of course, some pets are more sensitive to these plants than others. Ingestion of the plant can be toxic but is not needed to cause the irritating rash. Some animals need only to have the plant come in contact with their skin or mouth.
Secure the Christmas tree: A curious, energetic cat will climb the trunk of a Christmas tree before anyone has time to say, “scat.” One tail sweep from a large breed of dog also can send the tree swaying. When putting up the tree, pet owners should secure it – bottom and top. A sturdy tree holder should be good enough for the bottom while fishing line can be used to secure the tree’s top. Screwing two metal eyelets into the wall or wood window molding on each side of the tree allows you to wrap the invisible filament around the tree’s trunk (a foot or more from the top) and then secure the line by attaching it to the eyelets.
Safeguard decorations: Cats and dogs love to romp and play when the Christmas decorations are strung about the living room floor. However, strings of lights, glass ornaments, holiday ribbons, and electrical cords pose all kinds of pet hazards. It is best to close your pet in another room when you begin decorating. Thereafter, you will need to supervise your pet around the Christmas tree at all times. If you can’t, then you need to take some action.
One of the best measures involves spraying a bitter-tasting commercial pet spray on all Christmas decorations and cords. The bitter taste discourages pets from biting and can be applied to most Christmas trimmings with no harm to the decorations.
Don’t use tinsel, hooks: Giving up holiday tinsel and doing away with metal hooks to hang Christmas ornaments are part of responsible pet ownership. Both tinsel and hooks can be easily ingested and result in serious, if not fatal, injuries to pets. Using a heavy strand of garland, and hanging ornaments with non-frayable ribbons are both better options.
Use unbreakable ornaments: Pet-safe ornaments like those that are knitted, wooden, or made of other indestructible materials should be placed near the bottom of your Christmas tree while ornaments made of glass, beads, and plastic should remain at the top where pets can’t reach them.
Lacey Clever
Program Specialist
Petland, Inc.