Christmas Safety Tips

It's almost the holidays. We think the following are important tips to keep your pet safe and happy this holiday season:

1. Don't feed your pet the dinner feast. I just learned that turkey skin is not good for dogs and cats, nor are the spices that are generally found in many holiday dishes. And, don't forget, keep the bones away from your pets, as they can shatter, splinter or break, and can cause damage to your pet's throat and/or digestive system.

2. Keep ribbons and other wrapping materials in safe places away from your pet.

3. Do not let your pets ingest Christmas tree "icicles" (tinsel). This material can cause major problems for your pet, that would require a visit to the vet.

4. Be sure you know where there is a 24-hour emergency vet clinic, in case of an emergency, as extended holidays hours by your vet may require that you make a visit to all-night clinic when you can't get a hold of your regular vet. I ran into this problem many years ago, when my cat, Pussytoes, became sick on Christmas Eve, and we had to go to an emergency clinic for help. Unfortunately, they were only open when regular vet offices were closed, so we had to pick up Pussytoes from the emergency clinic and take her to the regular vet during the day, but then take her back to the emergency clinic at night, as that was the only way to give her 24-hour care. She did not survive, however, and we lost her at 3:00 am on December 27.

5. Keep holiday cheer - such as punch, liquor, wine, beer - away from your pet as well. The alcohol is not good for your pet and can make them quite sick.

6. Have a safe, quiet place for your pet to stay when you have holiday parties, with lots of strangers coming in and out of your home, as the constant activity may be over-stimulating for your baby. Don't let all the guests overwhelm your pet at one time. Let your pet approach whomever they want, when they want. Your pet may not want to be picked up and kissed by all the "strangers", even if they are family to you.

7. Have an extra warm blanket available for the much cooler temperatures now becoming evident. Many times if you see a lump in your bed, look under the covers, and voila, your baby appears.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. May Santa Claus be good to all of you.