Western Arizona Humane Society
Victoria Cowper,
Community Relations Manager

This is a regular column, presented every two weeks to provide information about pet and animal care, including the legal responsibilities of pet ownership. We invite you to send your questions to answer in upcoming issues.
Please send your questions and comments to the Today's News Herald or directly to me a W.A.H.S. 855-5083 or wahs@ctaz.com

While you are busy making your festive plans for the Holidays, please don't forget to include your pets. The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with your little best friends. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make the holidays a happy time for everyone.

Some of the more common holiday hazards include:

Bones: The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your pet. Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal track.

Fat: Gravies, fat drippings, and poultry skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset as well.

Holiday Plants: Think twice before setting out mistletoe and holly, which are extremely poisonous when eaten. The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause sever gastric distress. With so many hybrid varieties available each year, the best approach is to keep the plants out our your pet's reach. Check with you veterinarian regarding other toxic plants and trees.

Electrical Cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for our pet's to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way.

Candles: Lighted candles should never be unattended and that is even more important is left a kitty's eye level or within puppy's chewing zone. An exuberant tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous. Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.

Holiday Tree: Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat or a large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using strong cord or rope. The water in the tree stand should be covered in case your pet may decide to take a drink of the lethal mixture of pine pitch and water. In addition, preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets. Avoid sugar and aspirin additives in the water as well.

Pine Needles: Check around holiday trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough.

Ornaments: Sharp or breakable ornaments, even aluminum foil should be kept out of reach. Glass, Styrofoam and paper ornaments are favorite treats for dogs. Food ornaments such as popcorn, cookies and candy are very appealing.

String Objects: Tinsel, ribbon, lace and shiny objects are especially attractive. These are to be safeguarded at all costs. They are thin and sharp and can wrap around intestines or ball up in the stomach.

Treats: Make sure that treats for your children, placed in stockings, are not opened early by your pet. This applies to the cookies that you leave for Santa. Make sure they are placed away from your pet's reach. Have some healthy treats readily available for your pet's so they can enjoy the holiday spirit.

Wrapping Paper: Don't leave wrapping paper, ribbons and tape unattended where your pet can cause mischief. Remember, your pet can sniff out favorite hiding places for gifts, so get creative.

Stress and Company: With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets. Make sure your pets have collars and tags on in case of escape. A current license would make a great holiday gift for your dog. Introduce your pet to guests and let them get comfortable with them. Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people. Provide a special quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful.

The dedicated staff and volunteers at the Western Arizona Humane Society wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season. We will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th. Please direct all EMERGENCY Animal Control calls to Police Dispatch at 855-4211.



Previous Articles:

Spay & Neuter
Adopt a Cat
Cat Myths
Heat
Fireworks
Cat Scratching
Heartworm
W.A.H.S & Lake Havasu City
Pet Loss
Animal Control
Safe Hoildays
VOLUNTEERS
PARVO
Crate Training