Ensuring Your Pet has a Jolly Holiday Too The tinsel is on the tree and the Christmas poinsettias are spread throughout the house. With the excitement of holiday hustle and bustle it is easy to forget about hidden dangers many holiday decorations can pose to your pets. Sharpening your senses when it comes to safe holidaying with your pets is the best way to avoid a holiday trip to the veterinarian, according to the Dr. Jae Chang, veterinarian with Farr Veterinary Hospital. “For most families the holidays are a happy time, but it’s also quite stressful. It’s important to remember that it can be stressful for your pet, as well – particularly since they don’t understand what’s going on,” Dr. Chang said. “For this reason, it’s important to keep them as close to their routine as possible. You may be tempted to give them some extra leftovers or nibbles of the Christmas ham, but this can have very unpleasant results, to say the least.” You also want to make sure that your pet doesn’t swipe treats without your knowledge – so keep things like serving trays, mixing bowls and dishes out of their reach. Never feed sweet treats to your animals. Most pet owners know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but there are many other foods that can cause your pet distress. Christmas trees, particularly real ones, can also cause potential problems. “Make sure your pet doesn’t have access to standing tree water. The bacteria could cause stomach upset if it’s ingested,” said Dr. Chang. “Also, be careful of how you decorate
the tree. Shiny decorations and tinsel can easily catch the eye of a playful cat or dog, but if the decoration is accidentally swallowed, it could create serious problems. It’s typically recommended that families with pets avoid tinsel altogether.” If you include your pet in the gift-giving and stocking-stuffer festivities, choose safe toys that are appropriate for their size. Don’t give a Chihuahua an enormous bone that’s designed for a Rottweiler, and don’t give a Rottweiler a chew toy made for a Chihuahua. “There are reasons why most toys come with safety precautions,” Dr. Chang said. One of the biggest problems with pet toys – whether it’s for dogs or cats – is when it’s inadvertently swallowed. “It’s possible for these items to get trapped in the digestive tract, requiring surgery. This is true for toys as well as things like ribbon or wrapping paper.” If you have a shy or timid pet, make sure it has its own retreat. This ensures their safety, as well as that of your guests. “Don’t overwhelm a nervous animal with dozens of guests,” Dr.
Chang said. “Put them in a nice, safe place where they won’t feel threatened or frightened.” Keep an eye on your guests to make sure they don’t inadvertently give your pet access to alcoholic beverages, plates of food or other potentially harmful items. “Also, if possible, opt for artificial plant décor or make sure it’s out of your pet’s reach. Some popular Christmas decorations, such as mistletoe and holly, can cause gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems,” Dr. Chang said.
Find the Healthy Image Elves
andWIN!
Meet the Healthy Image Marketing Agency holiday elves: Pixel and Mark A. Ting. They met in Candy Cane Forest as Mark was practicing his ear wiggle technique and Pixel was perfecting her pixie dust sprinkling skills. It was love at first sprite. They enjoy long walks in the snow, sipping hot cocoa, and going on wild adventures. You’ll see them often between now and Christmas as they check on Healthy Image clients (and probably get into a little mischief along the way). facebook.com/healthyimagemarketing 72 www.thriveswla.com
We can hardly keep track of them so we need your help! We’ll post pictures of their adventures on the Healthy Image Facebook page (facebook.com/ healthyimagemarketing). The first person to guess their location each weekday in December will win a Starbucks gift card tucked inside of an awesome Healthy Image mug. Each daily winner will be entered into the Grand Holiday Prize Drawing for a holly-palooza package of restaurant gift certificates.
The adventures are about to begin, so buckle your mistletoe and let’s go! Thrive Magazine for Better Living
December 2013