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> Animal Care & Behavior
Animal Companions Column: Holiday
Safety for Your Pet Twinkling lights, dangling ornaments, festive packages and tasty treats–with so many temptations around, what should a curious animal investigate first? Given the hustle and bustle of holiday activity and shopping, your pet may be home alone longer hours than usual, and some of those decorations and treats may pose unique safety hazards. With a bit of planning and anticipation, however, you can make sure the holidays are fun and safe for your animal companions. December holidays pose special decorating challenges. Keep an eye on holiday lights to make sure your pet does not chew on wiring or bat about small light bulbs. Puppies, kittens and rabbits, in particular, may regard wires as chew toys. Remember to unplug Christmas tree lights and other seasonal lighting before you leave home. Breakable decorations, especially those hung on Christmas trees, should be placed out of your animal's reach. When positioning other decorations around your home or apartment–particularly fragile figurines and candleholders–avoid placing them on any of your feline's favorite napping spots or travel pathways. Also remember the wide arc of a wagging tail and excited leaps of your canine companion. Christmas trees can present a few hazards, particularly to felines. If you do not want to be surprised by your cat climbing the tree, then you might try hanging lemon-scented air fresheners or dryer sheets from low branches close to the trunk–cats generally do not like the smell of orange or lemon. To prevent flying felines from approaching your tree from the top, avoid placing the tree next to any tempting springboards such as high bookshelves. To discourage any ground-level approaches, place a stiff cardboard funnel about one-third up the tree with the wide opening toward the ground. Several other cautions on trees: Do not place tree preservatives, aspirin or Tylenol in the water at the base of the tree stand. These can be extremely harmful, even fatal, to your companion animal. Also avoid tinsel and garlands when decorating, as both can pose a danger should your pet swallow the shiny ribbons and strings. Around the holidays, we humans tend to have more treats around the home, most of which are tasty to us but some of which can be harmful to dogs and cats. Turkey and other human foods can cause gastrointestinal problems in our canine and feline friends, and chocolates can be fatal to dogs. Even if you do not offer these treats to your pets, they may find them when your back is turned. It is always a good idea to keep trash closed up tight, especially when it is full of turkey bones. And you may want to shake a few gifts before you put them under the tree, just to be sure they are not filled with tasty cookies or fruitcakes! With increased holiday comings and goings and festive get-togethers, your pet may get a little bewildered or stressed, particularly a pet who may be new to your household. To minimize the effects of excitement on your animal companions, close off a quiet room away from the noise. Provide adequate food and water, and remember litter boxes for your felines. Take care to check on your animal companions and give them some extra holiday attention. A gentle massage for your cat or a quiet stroll with your dog may offer some soothing moments for both animals and humans during the busy holidays. Just in case your indoor pet slips out the door with any guests or elves, or is apt to be frightened by fireworks, make sure all animals are wearing identification. Dogs and cats should wear a collar with your name and phone number. For added protection, consider having your canine or feline companion microchipped. Your veterinarian can implant a tiny microchip in your companion animals. The Humane Society and many veterinarians have scanners that can read the data on your pet's microchip and access the information on how to contact you. From all of us at the Hawaiian Humane Society, we wish you and your companion animals a safe and happy holiday season. |
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Contact: hhs@hawaiianhumane.org • Telephone: (808) 946-2187 • Fax: (808) 955-6034 Copyright © 2004 Hawaiian Humane Society
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