 Christmas
Safety Tips for Your Pet 
Angel hair. This is made from spun glass, it can irritate the skin, cause cuts and damage the eyes. If eaten it can cause intestinal blockage.
Artificial Snow, flocking. These are possibly poisonous, can cause digestive upset or be a respiratory irritant if inhaled. Spray only the upper corners of high windows.
Candles. Flame or dripping wax can burn dogs and cats or singe their whiskers or hair. Also, they are a fire hazard if the pet knocks them
over. Save candles for the dining room table, and don't burn them near an unattended pet.
Electric cable. Dogs and cats can be shocked, burned or electrocuted by chewing on
cable. It is safer to run cables through PVC piping, cover with rugs, or secure to the floor by placing behind or beneath heavy furniture.
Decorations. Glue, rubber bands, staples, string, tacks and tape can cause mild pain, serious complications, or death if swallowed. Store them in a secure place. Discard used items when decorations are removed.
Fire/fireplaces, including ashes, popping wood. These can cause bronchial irritation, burns skin irritation and digestive distress. Keep a fire screen in front of a fireplace while in use.
Food. Bones can cause choking, internal punctures, possibly death. Chocolate can cause theobromine poisoning which is an
over stimulation of the nervous system, and may be fatal. Chocolate also
causes vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Fatty, spicy, or sweet foods lead to gastric upset, dehydration and pancreatitis. Burns and mouth or throat ulcerations can result from hot food. Do not share your holiday goodies with your pets. If you can resist give a healthy treat. Keep your dog out of the dining area and feed it its regular dinner while you eat. Do not leave cooking food unattended or set hot dishes near edge of stove or counter. Do not leave sweets or other snacks where your dog can reach them.
Guests. They add to the noise, confusion and stress for your pet who will be put out of its routine. Pets can be stepped on, or unsupervised children can injure them. Pets can escape when visitors come and
go. Guests are more likely to feed your pets and 'just a little bite' adds up to quite a lot of food. Always advise your guests not to feed your pets. If your guests are uncomfortable around your dogs and cats, or if extra activity causes your pet anxiety, board it for the holidays. Your cat and dog should sleep in a regular spot. If it is where it will be distressed, move the pet to a quiet place where it will be comfortable.
Decorative lights. Cats and dogs can become tangled in the strands, leading to burns and cuts. They can create the same hazards as electric cables.
Costumes and dressing up. Never dress up cats and dogs as costumes can cause choking and strangulation.
Plants, holly, ivy, mistletoe and poinsettia. These plants range from mildly upsetting to extremely toxic. If eaten they can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, coma, central nervous system or cardiac problems or even death.
Gift wrapping. Ribbon, trim polystyrene foam packaging, wrapping foil and paper are dangerous if eaten by your pet. Always wrap packages in an area away from your pet. Collect and discard all the waste. Any wrapping paper and supplies you are not using, put away. If you have any gifts for your dog, use plain brown paper, wrap loosely and supervise unwrapping.
Live trees. Place the tree in a room away from the cat or dog. To stop the tree from falling over, place a hook in the ceiling and use some nylon yarn. Tie the top of the tree with the nylon and then secure this to the ceiling. By using this system the tree cannot fall over.
Alcoholic beverages.
Drunken dogs are very sick dogs. An ounce of a beverage that is 20 to 40 proof can cause alcohol poisoning or coma in a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier.
Dangers of Poinsettias and
Mistletoe
 Food
is not the only holiday danger. Ornamental plants, such as Christmas trees,
mistletoe, and poinsettias can be toxic to your pet. Consumption of
Christmas trees and other firs can cause gastrointestinal irritation which
can result in vomiting and diarrhea. This is because these plants have oils
and pine needles which cause irritation to the mouth and stomach. Mistletoe,
when eaten in small quantities, can cause problems similar to the
consumption of Christmas trees. When mistletoe is consumed in larger amounts
it can cause much more serious problems, such as heart arrhythmia’s and
seizures. Poinsettias, traditionally used as decorative plants during the
holidays, are beautiful for your pets to look at but not to eat. Consumption
of these plants can cause upset stomach because of sap contained in the
plant.
Winter Pet Care
Fall and winter and the holiday seasons all can pose special risks to your pets. Here are some tips for keeping everyone safe and healthy.
 Maintenance Tips
Always provide fresh, clean water for your pet. If the weather is cold, please check their water for ice formation and remove the ice.
Indoor pets should be provided with a warm, dry area free from drafts. Provide bedding that
is off of cold floors, and wash bedding weekly if possible (the fleas will hate you).
Outdoor pets should have dry shelter out of the wind. Bring cats and dogs into the house if the weather conditions are rainy, snowy or weather conditions are severe (cold, etc).
Staying warm requires extra calories, pets may need more food or a change in diet. Talk to your veterinarian about your pets needs.
Ice, snow and mud- Remove ice, salt, mud, snow from your pets coats, feet as soon as possible. If the skin looks reddish, white or
gray in cold weather, may be scaly or peeling, suspect frostbite if the weather has been really cold. Talk to a veterinarian immediately.
Shedding- Most dogs and cats shed their summer coats in the fall before putting on their winter coat. Most years this is light and not very
noticeable. Special attention should be paid to hair coats and daily or weekly brushing (as needed) should help your pet and you be happier.
Antifreeze and Your Pet
 As winter approaches, many people will "winterize" their automobiles, including a change of antifreeze. Take care to keep both new and used antifreeze in a sealed container, out of reach of pets. Clean up any spills of antifreeze on driveways and other hard surfaces. Dogs and cats find antifreeze quite tasty and if they find antifreeze they'll drink it. Antifreeze is extremely toxic causing kidney failure that is often fatal in just a few days.
Very small amounts of antifreeze can be fatal. If a cat walks through a puddle of antifreeze and then licks its paws, it can ingest enough antifreeze to cause death. About five tablespoons can kill a medium sized dog. If you see your pet drinking antifreeze, or are at all suspicious that your pet may have had access to antifreeze, contact
your veterinarian immediately.
Very small amounts of antifreeze can be fatal. Signs of antifreeze poisoning depend upon the time after ingestion. In the first few hours after ingestion the pet may be depressed and staggering and may have seizures. They may drink lots of water, urinate large amounts and vomit. The pet may appear to feel better but in a day or two get much worse as the kidneys fail. Signs of kidney failure include depression and vomiting. The amount of urine they pass will often decrease to a very small amount.
The diagnosis of antifreeze poisoning is made by blood and urine tests although some of these tests become negative by the time kidney failure develops. Antifreeze poisoning should be considered in any free-roaming dog or cat with consistent signs.
Treatment must be started very soon after drinking antifreeze Treatment for antifreeze poisoning needs to be started as soon after ingestion as possible to be effective. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance of survival. Once kidney failure develops, most animals will die.
The treatment for antifreeze poisoning depends on when the pet is presented to the veterinarian. If the pet is seen within a few hours of ingesting antifreeze, vomiting is induced to remove any antifreeze still in the stomach and charcoal is placed in the stomach to bind antifreeze in the intestine. Antifreeze itself is not very toxic but it is broken down by the liver to other components that cause the damage. If the pet is presented to a veterinarian soon after drinking antifreeze, a drug is given that impairs the liver from converting antifreeze to these toxic products, allowing the unconverted antifreeze to pass in the urine. These drugs are useful only when given early and are not effective after the pet is already showing signs of kidney damage.
Animals presented to a veterinarian in kidney failure due to antifreeze poisoning can occasionally be saved with aggressive treatment. Some specialty veterinary practices offer dialysis which can be used to remove waste products that are not being removed by the diseased kidneys.
Whether the kidneys will repair themselves or not depends on how severely they are injured. Unfortunately, the kidney damage caused by antifreeze is usually very severe and irreversible. Kidney transplantation has been performed in dogs and cats.
 Decorating
with Dogs
Decorating when you have pets can provide
unique opportunities to express your own personal style and taste. Here are
some tips I'd like to share:
1. Bare floors, without carpet or
throw rugs, can give a nice open feeling to a room. It can provide a
soothing balance when you have many art objects that reflect your love of
animals.
2. Paw prints and nose smudges on
glass doors and windows break up glare and soften the light in a room.
3. Dog crates, when stacked three
high, can add height to a room and pull the eye up. If fastened securely to
the wall, the top can provide a safe and dramatic place for exotic plants or
statuary that otherwise might be molested by your pets. An up light can make
it a real focal point. Cats love to inhabit the upper crates, leaving the
lower ones for the dogs.
4. Old towels and blankets thrown
casually on upholstered furniture can add a wonderful homey, country-quilt
look to an otherwise bland room.
5. Common smooth upholstery fabrics
can look almost velvety when lightly textured with pet hair.
6. Vari-kennels, placed end to end
and topped with plate glass can create an unusual coffee table, one your
friends will really remember.
7. Doggie beds, randomly placed
around a room, can add color and texture, much as throw pillows do.
8. Shredded or chewed books and
magazines send a message to guests that they are free to relax and feel at
home.
9. Dog crates can make versatile end
tables, and can be slip covered to match any room decor.
10. There is absolutely nothing that
makes a guest feel as welcome as three friendly dogs hopping in his lap as
soon as he sits down.
So throw away those
videos by Martha and others, and express your own unique tastes. Your home
should reflect what YOU like!
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