Holiday Pet Safety, Part Three

~ Holiday plants like poinsettias and holly are poison not only to be people but to animals too. Mistletoe can also cause gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. Make sure mistletoe is firmly attached wherever you hang it and that plants are well out of reach. Since cats can jump pretty much anywhere, though, the safest solution would be to use artificial plants and flowers.

~ Light cords can be tempting toys puppies and kittens. Either keep them tucked behind furniture or tape them down. When our cats were kittens we’d cut down one side of an empty paper towel cardboard center, gather the cord up inside, and tape it shut again, eliminating extra cording which could then be tucked out of the way.

Reader Danielle of humanefundraising.com also has a few helpful suggestions:

~ Along with the food items mentioned in the Thanksgiving tips, don’t forget about bread dough left out to rise. It can rise in the pet’s stomach, causing serious problems. Alcoholic drinks left on coffee tables and end tables can also be problematic. Liquid potpourri burners are also popular this time of year, and smell wonderfully enticing for many animals. Keep these items out of reach of your pets.

~ Small batteries are also an issue around the holidays, since many toys and electronic gadgets required tiny batteries that can easily be swallowed. The usual holiday decorations such as garland and tinsel are favorites of many pets, too. Keep a watchful eye out for your decorations, and be sure to consider any holiday plants you bring home, as many can make a pet sick if ingested.

Thanks, Danielle!