PREPARE FOR A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON
The holidays are coming! Time to start preparing and to help ensure that the furry members of your family have a safe and happy season, too.
A POISON SAFE HOME FOR YOUR PETS
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet - Alcoholic beverages - Avocado - Chocolate (all forms) - Coffee (all forms) - Fatty foods- Macadamia nuts - Moldy or spoiled foods - Onions, onion powder - Raisins and grapes - Salt - Yeast dough - Garlic - Products sweetened with xylitol
Warm Weather Hazards - Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions - Blue-green algae in ponds - Citronella candles - Cocoa mulch - Compost piles Fertilizers - Flea products - Outdoor plants and plant bulbs - Swimming-pool treatment supplies - Fly baits containing methomyl - Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde
Medication - Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include: - Pain killers - Cold medicines - Anti-cancer drugs - Antidepressants - Vitamins - Diet Pills
Cold Weather Hazards - Antifreeze - Liquid potpourri - Ice melting products - Rat and mouse bait
Common Household Hazards- Fabric softener sheets - Mothballs- Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)
Holiday Hazards - Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach. - Electrical cords - Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!) - Batteries - Glass ornaments
Non-toxic Substances in Dogs and Cats The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals: - Water-based paints - Toilet bowl water - Silica gel - Poinsettia - Cat litter - Glue traps - Glow jewelry
