Holiday Pet Hazards and How to Prevent Them

Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas may be among the
most festive and joyous in your family, but these holidays are among the most dangerous
for pets. Treats, decorations and other goodies kept in your home during this time often
prove irresistible to your pet, often resulting in more emergency vet visits during the
holidays than any other time of year. This is why extra vigilance is required to
keep your pets safe during the holidays. Below is a list of some of the most common
hazards pets often face during the holidays, and what you can do to prevent an
emergency from occurring.

Chocolate is among the most toxic substances a pet can consume. Chocolate contains
a substance called theobromine, a compound very similar to caffeine. Theobromine can be
toxic to dogs and cats even in small quantities, causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity,
seizures, rapid heartbeats, muscle tremors, coma and even death.
Chocolates are downright deadly for your pets. Therefore, chocolate should never be given
to your pet, in any amount.  But guess what? Dogs love them. They will not hesitate to
gobble up an entire box in the blink of an eye. So, the first pet safety rule on Valentine's Day
is to stash your goodies out of their reach.  If you feel that your pet deserves a little
indulgence during the holiday, be sure to stick with treats made specifically for pets.
These goodies are not only safe, but they are made with the ingredients your pet will love.

Aluminum or plastic candy wrappings can also be a potential pet hazard.
Many pets (especially cats and puppies) are naturally drawn to the texture,
bright colors, and crinkly sounds of these wrappings and often consume them
unintentionally while playing with them. Consumption of these items can cause intestinal
upset or even an intestinal obstruction. It is important to remember to keep all candy dishes,
Easter baskets, Christmas stockings and Halloween treat bags out of your pet's reach
at all times.

In addition to chocolate, many other human foods can be dangerous
for pets to consume, including those high in fat and sugar. Candy or food containing
nuts is also something that should not be given to pets, as nuts pose a potential
choking hazard and can also cause a severe intestinal upset.  Anything containing
sugar should also be avoided, as excessive sugar consumption can upset
the insulin levels in dogs and cats, leading to diabetes.  Also, remember that
alcohol and animals don't mix.  Alcohol should never be given to pets, as it can prove toxic.
Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and affect
the central nervous system resulting in lack of coordination or even put them in
a coma if ingested in excess. So, make sure that you don't spill your
wine or champagne when your pets are around and if you do have an accident
then make sure that you mop the spill immediately.

You might be thrilled and ecstatic when you receive a bouquet of your favorite flowers
from your admirer on Valentine's Day, but did you know that some of these 
flowers and many ornamental household plants popular during the holidays are
poisonous to dogs and cats?   All species of lilies can be fatal to pets, especially cats.
Even ingesting a small piece of the blooming Easter Lily plant can cause renal failure
in cats and kittens.  Azalea, Chrysanthemum, Amaryllis, English Ivy, Poinsettias,
Mistletoe, and the bulbs of tulips and daffodils are just some of the flowers and plants 
that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other serious symptoms if ingested by your pets.
If you are a pet owner then make sure to be aware of all the flowers that are dangerous
to your pet and remember to remove them from a bouquet that you receive and
also from those that you send to someone with a pet.   Always keep these plants out of
your pet's reach or away from your home entirely.

A cozy dinner by the fireplace or a romantic dinner with candle light is a perfect
setting to celebrate your Valentine's Day. Just make sure to put out
the flames, as unattended fires or candles are accidents waiting to happen,
especially if you have energetic and nosy pets that can knock down a burning candle
or get too near to the fireplace.


Decorations also prove tempting for pets to play with, but can also pose an
intestinal hazard when ingested. Among the most dangerous and most likely
to catch your pet's curious eye are tinsel, glass ornaments, light strings,
Easter basket "grass", and small plastic toys. Make sure to keep all decorations,
Easter baskets, Christmas stockings, etc. out of your pet's reach at all times. 

Consider backyard Easter egg hunts very carefully, making note of where
all boiled eggs are hidden and hiding only a few at a time. Many pets have become
sick after stumbling across and consuming a rotten Easter egg, often forgotten
from a previous hunt days or weeks before. If possible, use plastic eggs instead of
real eggs, making sure your pet can't get inside and consume any of the contents.

Finally, if you are planning a big gathering of friends and family
at your house, make sure to consider your pet's safety and comfort
before the party begins. Many pets become extremely agitated or anxious
around large gatherings of people and may react unexpectedly. In addition,
with lots of company in your home, the odds are greater that your pet will
accidentally become stepped on, tripped over, get into something he shouldn't
or accidentally let out of the house. It is a good idea to lock your pet in a
quiet room away from all the activity for the duration of the festivities.
Your pet will be much happier and the potential for disaster will be greatly diminished.

The holidays are meant to be a fun and joyous time for your family.  By considering your
pet's safety and taking the proper precautions before the festivities begin,
you can head off potential disasters, reducing the likelihood of spending your
holiday making an emergency vet visit.

If you suspect your pet has consumed any of the above items,
please contact your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can advise you on
what to do or whether you will need to bring your pet in for further
evaluation and/or treatment.

The above article is a combination of articles authored by PetsMart
and Robin Zygelman.  Learn more about pet care and
insurance at http://www.petinsurance101.net

Pet insurance101 is an educational resource providing information about
pet insurance and helping consumers make a choice. Robin Zygelman is
thoroughly committed to saving animals one at a time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Zygelman
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Rabbits and Easter

Easter is fast approaching and that means pet stores are stocking up with "Easter Bunnies". Many families can't resist these sweet little pets for their young children, but all too often are not prepared for the long term commitment. Typically the novelty wears off and the rabbits are dumped at a shelter, or worse, set free in the woods. We encourage you to to carefully consider whether a live rabbit is right for you and your family, and if not, to opt for a stuffed toy bunny for your child to cuddle instead. Contrary to popular belief, rabbits do not make particularly good pets for children. Pet rabbits are domesticated prey animals who are highly sensitive to their environment. The natural curiosity and energy level of young children can create too much stress for most rabbits. Also, children often prefer a pet they can hold, cuddle and play with, while rabbits rarely tolerate being carried around and do not play interactively. This often leads to the rabbit being labeled as "boring" and left alone in her cage day after day. As sociable, inquisitive animals, rabbits require several hours of play time every day for their well being where they can interact with their human friends without high noise or stress levels. Young children can be dangerous to rabbits. Rabbits have fragile spines that can break if they are dropped by a child. We have often seen rabbits with broken spines and legs from children playing with them- even very gentle children don't have sufficient eye-hand coordination to handle a rabbit. A frightened rabbit can also kick and scratch, injuring a child or adult who does not handle him properly. Each year after Easter we also receive many phone calls from people who purchased a bunny who died within days or weeks. Sadly some pet stores sell rabbits as young as 4 weeks old. Since the babies don't wean until 6-7 weeks old, their digestive tracts have not properly formed. This can lead to diarrhea, other gastrointestinal problems, and sometimes death. Raising baby rabbits requires specialized care and diet, so babies should not be separated from their mothers and siblings until they are 8 weeks old. If you think that rabbits are a good "starter" pet for your child, please think again. Rabbits are as much work as a dog or cat. They require fresh vegetables and pellets at least twice a day, cleaning of litter boxes, daily changes of water bottles, supervision when playing, fresh hay and visits to the veterinarian. They should be spayed or neutered. Just like other pets, they can also be destructive, chewing on furniture, baseboards and wires. While rabbits use a litter box fairly reliably, they will occasionally have accidents and, if not spayed or neutered, may spray or "mark territory" with urine or droppings. Rabbits can make wonderful pets for the right home, but it is important that you understand what you are getting into first. You need to be ready to make a 7-10 year commitment, as that's the expected lifespan of an indoor rabbit. We do adopt rabbits out to homes with children, but the parent(s) must genuinely enjoy caring for the rabbits and take primary responsibility for the pet. Young children must be supervised at all times when with the rabbit. If you would like more information about rabbits, please read some of our other literature and call our hotline at 781-431-1211. One of our volunteer educators or adoption counselors will be happy to answer your questions and help you decide whether a rabbit is the right pet for your home. For general information on rabbit care, please read our Bunny Basics. Copyright 2000-2004 - Suzanne Rubins and Suzanne Trayhan, House Rabbit Network