It's that time of year again... The holidays are upon us. Here are a few things to keep in mind this holiday season.
Pets are NOT a good gift. Please don't give a dog as a gift. Our intake requests increase by ten fold in January and February because people get animals as gifts that they are not prepared to care for. People need to research the breed that they think would be best for their family. They need to consider the amount of time that will be required to train and attend to the new dog. A dog is also a financial commitment for 10 to 15 years. While that puppy might look really cute with a ribbon around his neck, pets are a huge, life-long responsibility. It's not fair to assume that someone wants that responsibility or to assume that you know what they want in a dog. Choosing a pet is best left to the person who will be responsible for it.
Your dog doesn't need your leftovers! When your dog is giving you those sad eyes, just begging for what you didn't finish, give him a treat made for dogs rather than your leftovers. The foods we eat are much more rich, salty, and fatty than your dog's system can handle. Allowing your dog to have cooked bones from your turkey or ham is also risky. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter and tear through the intestine than raw ones. As a former veterinary technician, I remember the clinic scheduling extra staff during the holidays to cover the increased number of sick dogs we would see. By giving your dog too much "human" food, you are increasing the risk of an upset stomach. It could be mild and only cause some vomiting and diarrhea or it could be severe and serious - like pancreatitis - which could mean hospitalization or even death. Some foods are worse than others - and some breeds can handle things that others can't. To be safe, err on the side of caution and don't give your pooch table scraps.
Chocolate can be deadly for dogs. It's not likely that your dog will get sick from stealing one hershey's kiss, but many people use bakers chocolate for holiday treats. This can seriously harm your dog if he eats it. Please make sure that you keep chocolates well out of your pets reach. If your pet does ingest chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately.
Tinsel is pretty, but is a potential hazard for your pet. You know how when tinsel sparkles, you just want to reach out and touch it? So does your pet. Cats are most likely to gnaw on these silvery strands, but some dogs will as well. Tinsel can get "stuck" in your pet's gut, causing the intestine to twist around itself. If this isn't addressed promptly by a vet, it can cause portions of your pet's gut to die, leading to sepsis and possibly death. If you have to use tinsel, place it well out of the reach of your pets. In my home, we use the colored beads on our tree rather than risk the tinsel.
I hope these tips will help you to have a happy, safe holiday season with your pets!
Happy Holidays from TCDR!
