Treat your pets to safe, happy holidays

Our pets are like family, no, they are family. That’s why most pet owners will indulge them at the holidays, spending big bucks in some cases to get them just the right thing.

No matter what the treat, pet owners should watch out for the dangers lurking in holiday décor, foods and pet presents because some pets are dead set on emergency room visits — turning that treat into a costly vet treatment.

DESTROY THE TOY

Keep in mind, any toy can be hazardous. It depends on the pet more than the toy. Some pets embrace their instinct to “kill” the toy and ingest it. Thousands of dollars and lots of heartache can be saved if you catch that detached squeaker before it ends up in your dog or cat’s intestines.

To prevent this type of hazard, check to see how easily parts can be removed, and how your pet is playing with the toy. Watch out especially for:

· Rope and knot toys (strings can cause intestinal blockage and distress)

· Feathers (the quills can puncture or irritate digestive tract)

· Bells and squeakers (digestive tract blockage or perforation)

· Stuffed toys (stuffing if ingested doesn’t pass very easily)

TREAT TROUBLE

Stick to treats made for pets. Dogs especially should not have any of the following ingredients that come in many holiday favorites:

· Chocolate/cocoa powder (contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs)

· Currants, raisins or grapes (cookies or fruit cakes)

· Alcohol (rum cake)

· Raw dough (may contain alcohol from the yeast)

· Garlic and onion (found in gravy, vegetables, casseroles)

· Anything containing the sweetener xylitol

· Fatty and/or raw meat scraps (can interfere with normal pancreatic function)

· Bones (cooked or raw, bones can splinter)

DANGEROUS DECOR

Put these items on your radar that can cause big headaches for you and dangerous stomach aches for pets.

· Potpourri (some pets like the texture or smell; can be toxic)

· Mistletoe and holly (poisonous to both cats and dogs)

· Package bows and ribbons (choking and intestinal blockage)

· Tinsel and garlands (lacerations in mouth and esophagus)

· Decorations with wire or sparkling lights (burns, cuts and digestive blockage) 

Source: Acton Animal Hospital, www.actonanimalhospitaltx.com