December 13, 1999
Media contact: Charlie Powell 509/335-7073, [email protected]
WSU Veterinary Hospital Pet Health Tips for the Holidays
PULLMAN, Wash. --Holidays are obviously special times for family and friends, but have you considered your pets also? Too often, well-meaning family members and guests injure pets with kindness or simple oversight during the holidays. The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine's teaching hospital faculty and staff offer the following top 10 pet tips to prevent a costly trip to your veterinarian during this festive season.
1. Give your pet plenty of clean water, not ice. An outside bowl of water can freeze and leave your pet without water. Ensure your pet's health by providing free access to a clean, fresh water source.
2. Don't give your dog left over turkey. Abrupt diet changes can upset a dog's digestive system. The result can be simple diarrhea or a severe and life threatening inflammation of the pancreas. For your happiness and your dog's health, don't share your holiday dinner.
3. Chocolate isn't a dog treat. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. It's similar to certain powerful drugs and can be poisonous to dogs. No matter how much they beg, don't kill your dog with kindness.
4. Keep tinsel away from your pet. Tinsel can lodge in your pet's digestive system and either plug it up or become stretched tight and act like saw cutting their stomach or intestines. Simple precautions can eliminate this costly and completely preventable problem.
5. Provide adequate shelter from the cold. Dogs are susceptible to frostbite just like humans. The tips of their ears and toes can freeze and even require amputation. Make sure your dog has insulated shelter out of the wind where they can escape the cold.
6. Use caution with space heaters and electrical cords. Shock injuries and fires can occur when pets chew electrical cords or knock over heaters. Space heaters can burn a dog's skin if they are placed too close. The easiest way to keep your pet warm is to provide them with good shelter or even allow them in the house. A clean, dry, fluffy bed or blanket to lie on is ideal for most pets.
7. Mistletoe and poinsettias are pretty poisons. Both common holiday plants contain poisons that can upset your dog's digestive system causing vomiting and diarrhea; or if enough is eaten they can be fatal. Keep these festive plants where you can enjoy them, and your dog can't eat them.
8. Walk your dog on a leash. Leashes are always a good idea for walking with pets, but especially when the roads are slick and drivers can't stop easily. Pets are safest when they are under close control of a responsible owner.
9. If you leave town provide for your pets. Travel is a common part of the holidays for many families and frequently pets aren't included. If you are unable to professionally board your animals, have a friend or neighbor check in on them at least once a day to ensure they have water, food, and shelter. With those daily visits comes a good dose of companionship from another human that doesn't hurt either.
10. Don't give pets as presents! Animals are magnificent companions only if the owner is ready to accept the responsibility for their care, according to Joanne Murphey, community practice veterinarian at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Murphey says it is frustrating for veterinarians to see how often rejected pets end up in animal shelters in February or March when the new owners realize their "present" was not what they'd anticipated. Consider, offering to help pick out an animal when the person is ready. Also a basic pet care book that emphasizes owner responsibility makes a great first gift.
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