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Toxic Plants
Cats and dogs have a unique metabolism and depending on their size
can be highly sensitive to poisonous plants.
It's important to note that because of the thousands of plants in
existence we can not address every plant that is or may be toxic
to your pet.
Plants generally considered to be nontoxic can cause severe
symptoms in a pet if they are allergic.
You should always be concerned whenever your pet eats any
type of plant and shows any signs in his or her behavior or a change
in their digestive system.
Even if some plants are not considered toxic it could have been
sprayed with a poisonous chemical.
In spite of your best safety precautions to prevent your pet from
poisons be prepared! You should always keep the telephone numbers
for your veterinarian and a local emergency veterinary service near
the phone just in case.
When in doubt contact your veterinarian immediately!
Time is of the essence to saving your pet!
If you can, take the plant or whatever the pet ingested with you
for ease of identification.
Only a trained vet can help you if you suspect that your pet has
been poisoned, do not waste valuable time that your pet has by
trying to find helpful info online.
WINTER HAZARDS DEADLY TO YOUR PET!
Antifreeze has a pleasant taste. Unfortunately, very small
amounts can be lethal. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze
can be deadly to a cat or a small dog.
Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store in secured cabinets. If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian right away!
Ice melting products can be irritating to the skin and mouth.
Depending on the actual ingredient of the ice melt and the quantity,
some signs of ingestion would include excessive drooling, depression, vomiting or even electrolyte imbalances.
Rat and mouse baits are more commonly used during the colder
winter months. When using rat or mouse baits, ant or roach traps,
or snail and slug baits, you need to place the products in areas that
are inaccessible to your pets. Most baits contain sweet smelling ingredients, which can be very delectable to pets and they will do
what ever it takes to seek it out.
In some cases, pet owners try to medicate their animals without their veterinarian's advice. Don't Do It! |
 Christmas Holiday Dangers For Your Pets!
AVOID Holiday Food Items That Could Cause Problems For Your Pet such as:
Alcoholic beverages
Chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
Moldy or spoiled foods
Onions, onion powder, Salt and Yeast dough
Lilies that may be in holiday flower arrangements could be deadly to your pet. Many types of lily can cause kidney failure in cats.
Poinsettias if ingested can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.
Mistletoe has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. However, ingestion of mistletoe usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.
HAZARDS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Christmas tree water can contain fertilizers always use plain water. If your pet drinks any of it, it can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be a breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
Avoid pet exposure to electric cords. If they are chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide the electrical cords, you can use duct tape to secure them.
Ribbons or tinsel can get caught in your pets intestines and cause an intestinal blockage and pets see ornaments as toys. Make sure
you hang glass ornaments higher and only use wood or plastic ornaments
on the lower branches and attach them securely to the tree with some
string. Glass ornaments can cut the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract which means an expensive trip to the vet.
Keep any open flames out of reach of your pet and only keep candles lit when you can supervise.
A Christmas tree can easily be knocked over by your dog or cat and this can cause injury. Make sure you secure your tree and remember to always clean up the Christmas tree needles to prevent ingestion by your pets.
Liquid potpourris are a popular household fragrance used during the holiday season. Most potpourri liquids contain
natural or essential oils, which if ingested can cause vomiting, stomach
upset, diarrhea, weakness, and possibly liver damage. Exposure to dogs and cats to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe mouth, skin or eye damage. Some products
also contain cationic detergents, in which case the signs tend to be
much worse. Cationic detergents can be caustic. This means that if ingested, it can actually burn the mouth and tongue. With eye or skin contact, there can be severe pain. Make sure you keep the potpourri up high enough to keep your dogs safely away and expecially cats can be exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing up against a leaky bottle or simmer pot containing the potpourri and then when your cat grooms itself the oral exposure results.
During the holidays, many veterinary clinics have
limited office hours
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Pet Dangers At Home 
