December 2011
17 posts
30 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Summary & Top 10...
Well, the ‘12 Pet Hazards of Christmas’ blog series has come to a close and Christmas is almost upon us. Thanks for following along and allowing me to teach you some things that’ll help you keep your pets safe and out of the ER. Rest assured, much of the information I’ve provided, and many of the tips, will not only keep your pets safe during the holiday season, but...
25 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 12: House...
OK, so maybe your annual holiday gathering doesn’t look exactly like this. And I know, it seems a bit curmudgeonly to name house guests as the poster-children for the final day of this blog series. After all, it’s the holidays and isn’t this time of year about nothing else if not spending it with friends, family, and loved ones? But from the perspective of the health and...
18 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 11: Cyclamen
I suspect this is a pet toxicity that many of you have never heard of. In fact, I suspect many of you have never even heard of a cyclamen before - though you’ve likely seen them many times (they’re often on display as you walk into supermarkets or in their floral departments). Although popular, especially around the holidays, the cyclamen isn’t a well known about pet toxin....
28 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 10: Liquid...
Some of the nicest things about the holidays this time of year are the smells, don’t you agree? Whether its the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, cookies baking in the oven, or a crackling wood fire, I just feel that Christmas is associated with an abundance of wonderful smells. Perhaps its just because I’m married to a wonderful and truly talented pastry chef and live in the...
21 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 9: Wrapping...
Be aware…
Just like tinsel, the ribbons and bows that adorn wrapped gifts are often very enticing for cats. Something about them just seems to trigger a cat’s ‘inner hunter’. Sadly though, a common result of this ‘hunt’ is an intestinal obstruction that can sicken or kill your cat and requires expensive surgery to remove.
The long, strand-like nature of ribbons...
15 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 8: Chocolate
Who amongst you wouldn’t welcome a nice box of chocolates as a gift this Christmas? Well perhaps not surprisingly, your dog would likely welcome it too. So if you don’t want to spend several hours and a nice chunk of change in the veterinary emergency hospital this Christmas, you’d best be careful that such a tasty gift doesn’t inadvertently wind up in their mouth.
Be...
WatchDark and foggy night here in Portland. It’s a perfect opportunity to test out the Visiglo collar on Wendy. I love this thing! Take a look and see why.
21 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 7: Light...
Though strands of Christmas lights can really add a beautiful holiday glow to your tree or house decorations, its important to also appreciate that they can cause a curious pet quite a shock and some pretty significant resulting health problems too. For this reason, light strands and other electric cords are the Day 7 pet hazard for The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas blog series.
Be aware…
...
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The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 6: Ornaments
From cuts on paws from those that break to gastrointestinal obstruction from those that get ingested, Christmas ornaments can cause a wide variety of injuries to your pets. Its this scope of injuries and their prevalence in homes this time of year that make Christmas ornaments the ‘poster child’ for Day 6 of The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas.
Be aware…
Cats are probably most at...
22 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 5: Lilies
I know, lilies don’t exactly ‘scream’ Christmas. But flowers do, and lilies are amongst the most common types of flowers found in bouquets at all times of the year - including Christmas. That, plus their very high toxic potential for cats, is what gets lilies into this series of blog posts.
Be aware…
Stargazer lilies, Rubrum lilies, Tiger lilies, and the other members...
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The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 4: Batteries
Christmas and batteries just seem to go hand-in-hand, don’t they. Whether those batteries are for your child’s toy, a new camera, or your cool new digital watch, you really should take the necessary precautions to keep them out of your pet’s mouth.
Now you might not think that your dog would eat a battery, but given the frequency with which these types of cases are seen in pet...
11 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 3: Mistletoe
Before you pucker up to kiss your sweetheart, be sure that bunch of mistletoe is well secured to the door jam. Though a bunch of mistletoe may get you that Christmas snog you’ve been dreaming about all year, it may also land your cat or dog in the hospital if it falls to the ground or they otherwise get their paws on it.
Be aware…
Even when eaten in small quantities, mistletoe can...
19 tags
The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 2: Fruitcake
Ah, the Christmas fruitcake! Whether you use it as a doorstop or an actual dessert, be careful around your pets with this staple of some Christmas festivities. If the alcohol in these dense cakes doesn’t cause a problem for your ‘furkids’, the raisins, currants, and yeast they often contain likely will.
Raisins and currants
Most fruitcake recipes call for dried fruits, and...
11 tags
WatchVideo from Nighttime Pet Safety segment on MORE Good Day Oregon show 12.8.2011.
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The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 1: Tinsel
Cats and tinsel can be an expensive combination, and it can prove fatal too.
Tinsel is often a very attractive toy for cats. After all, its shiny, it dangles, and its something new in their environment. Few cats can pass it up.
Cats just playing with tinsel isn’t the problem. Its when they eat it or get it wrapped around their tongue that their nightmare (and your’s) will begin....
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The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Introduction
Welcome to The Preventive Vet’s Christmas Pet Safety series of blog posts… ‘The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas’. Starting tomorrow, December 10th, I will be posting each day about one Christmas hazard that all pet owners should be aware of. This daily series will run through Wednesday December 21st, twelve days and twelve pet hazards. Then, on the 22nd, to coincide with my...
20 tags
Nighttime Pet Safety: The three simple steps
With the winter solstice fast approaching, the importance of nighttime pet safety can’t be overstated. Each year the incidence of pets being hit (and often killed) by cars rises with the shortening of the days. Its not that such tragedies don’t occur throughout the year, because believe me they do (and with truly heartbreaking frequency too). But as the amount of daylight dwindles...
