As the holiday season approaches, American Animal Hospital would like to encourage you to help keep your pets safe by following these easy tips:

ö Avoid Poisons

There are a number of toxins your pets can get into during the holidays: holiday greenery, chocolate, even the water at the base of the tree. Poinsettia may cause a little stomach upset, but plants like Mistletoe, Holly and the Amaryllis bulb can cause liver failure, seizures or death. Plants in the Lily family are generally safe for dogs, but can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. The water at the base of live trees often contains secretions that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, so it’s best to keep the tree in a room that can be closed off from pets by doors or safety gates. Don’t forget about the usual toxins like cleaning products either – many people do a thorough house-cleaning in preparation for the holidays, making those chemicals more available to your pets.

Many people are aware that chocolate is toxic to pets, but did you know that the type of chocolate matters? Chocolate is toxic because of the caffeine and a chemical called theobromine. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine, with unsweetened or baker’s chocolate having the highest percentage, followed by dark and semisweet, milk chocolate, and chocolate-flavored baked goods. Signs of chocolate toxicity include: vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors or seizures, racing or abnormal heart rhythms, and death. Don’t wait for your pet to start developing signs of toxicity, however! The sooner we can treat them, the better – if you know your pet has eaten chocolate, in any amount, call your veterinarian immediately. Be prepared to answer the following: what kind of chocolate and how much did your pet eat? How long ago was it eaten? How much does your pet weigh? This will help determine whether it was a toxic dose and what treatment is necessary.

ö All That Food:

Chocolate isn’t the only danger hiding in those holiday goodies either. Dogs are especially inclined to gobble down human food – wrappers and all – giving themselves a serious case of "garbage gut" indigestion. An excess of rich or fatty foods like poultry skin can also cause a potentially lethal inflammation of the pancreas (called pancreatitis) which starts with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Especially dangerous are poultry bones and other small bones which can splinter if chewed, perforating the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Large beef knuckles are safer for chewing but can still fracture teeth, so monitor your pet closely or consider giving peanut-butter-&-kibble-stuffed Kong^{â as a holiday treat instead.}

ö Careful with Decorations:

The tree is often a focus of holiday decorations, as well as holiday dangers. Cats (and a few dogs) have taken the entire tree down climbing or rough-housing. Pets can also become entangled in strings of lights and hanging streamers, resulting in injury or electrical burns. Cats are especially prone to trouble with tinsel and ribbons – if ingested, these can twist up in the intestines and cause serious damage. If you see tinsel, etc hanging out of your cat’s behind, DO NOT PULL it out!! Trim the end short so that it doesn’t get caught on anything and call your veterinarian. Pulling on tinsel that is stuck can lacerate the intestines. Other decorations can be choking or puncture hazards if chewed on, or result in intestinal blockage – and emergency surgery – if eaten. So keep all the fun decorations up where people can see them and pets can’t reach.

ö Keep Stress Low:

Pets rely on your established daily routine for comfort. So imagine how stressful the holidays are for them – suddenly their comfy routine is upset, there’s lots of noise and chaos, and all these strangers are visiting! It’s enough to make even the most social and well-mannered pet behave unusually. Anxious pets can try to escape – darting out the door as it’s opened for guests – putting them at risk for accidents with vehicles or getting permanently lost. They are also a risk themselves, as fearful pets are more likely to bite defensively. To keep your pets safe, make sure everyone is wearing collars and ID tags, even cats that don’t normally go outside. If you have a house full of guests, let things settle down first before introducing your furry family, and make sure they have a quiet room of their own to escape to with a favorite toy and soothing music to help drown out the noise. Be sure that small children (who often don’t know better) aren’t antagonizing pets and understand that the pet room is off-limits. Consider adding a pheromone product such as a Feliway or D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) diffuser. These products give your pet an unconscious signal that tells them are safe and can relax. Stop in to the clinic to pick up you diffuser.

ö Pets Aren’t the Best Presents:

The kids have been begging for months, and it can be tough to disappoint them. Unfortunately, the Christmas Puppy too often ends up as the Summer Surrender when owners get tired of a now-adolescent dog that still doesn’t have good house manners. The holidays are a very busy time, making it difficult for new owners to spend the appropriate amount of time training the new family member during those critical first weeks. Moreover, all the chaos can be disconcerting to your new friend who may already be anxious after leaving their first family. If you are thinking about adopting during the holiday season, consider bringing him or her home a week after New Year’s when things have settled down – a photo of the family-member-to-be with an appropriate dog or cat toy gives the kids something to unwrap while still giving your new friend the best possible home situation.

ö Other Winter Tips:

Ø When winterizing vehicles, be certain that no antifreeze is left where pets and wildlife can get to it. Clean up spills with kitty litter and dispose of properly. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic to animals, even in very small amounts (a tablespoon is enough to kill a cat!). The newer "pet-safe" products contain propylene glycol, which is better, but still not completely benign if ingested.

Ø Road salt and de-icer is very irritating to paws and the GI tract; in fact, some of the products can be toxic if ingested. Keep pets’ feet clean, and avoid letting them lick sidewalks or snow banks where road salt has been spread.

Ø Make sure outdoor pets have dry, insulated shelter that is protected from the wind, and access to fresh, unfrozen water at all times. If weather becomes extreme (as often happens in Wisconsin winters), bring your outdoor pets inside as much as possible. A good rule of thumb is: if it’s too cold for the kids to go to school, it’s too cold for pets to be outside.

Ø Be aware that outdoor cats and wildlife often seek shelter in the engine compartment of parked vehicles because of the residual warmth. Banging on the hood, or honking the horn before starting the engine can save lives!

ö Use Your Common Sense:

Basic common sense will go a long way to keeping your pets safe through the holiday season, but it’s also a good idea to have a back- up plan. Keep these phone numbers handy, and when in doubt, call a veterinarian!

American Animal Hospital – (920) 725-8522

Fox Valley Animal Referral Center (24 hr emergency service) – (920) 993-9193

Pet Poison Helpline – (800) 213-6680