| Pet Owners Should Pet-Proof Their Homes For The Holidays | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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There are many holiday decorations and simple items we take pleasure in at the holiday season, but what pet owners need to know is that some of these items can cause harm to their pets. One holiday item people love around their house for the holiday season is the beautiful poinsettia; however, many pet owners do not realize that these plants are highly poisonous to their pets and can cause mouth and stomach blisters when consumed. Another holiday treat, mistletoe, if ingested by an animal, can cause a severe heart attack. Holly leaves and the berries on the branches can cause death to a pet if it is consumed. Hibiscus is another holiday favorite that is graced in people's homes, however, if your pet does consume this plant, it will leave the animal with a bad case of diarrhea. Leaving out these plants does not have to be an option; just make sure to keep your plants out of your pet's reach when selecting a place to show them in your home. Tree decorations, such as tinsel and ribbon, can get caught in a dog or cat's intestinal tract and cause blockages; this can happen even with pet parrots, parakeets or cockatiels as well. Though we see pictures of cats playing with balls of string, it is a dangerous object and should be kept away from animals when decorating your tree or wrapping presents. Another problem with trees is the water. Tree water likely has levels of pinesap in the mixture and dogs should be fully discouraged from drinking this. The water can be toxic to a pet if they drink it because it might also contain fertilizers, additives and preservatives. All of these are harmful to the health of your pet. Pet owners should also be wary of alcoholic beverages. Animals are always very curious about what their owners are consuming, so if you leave the room, make certain to place your unattended drink in a spot where your pet cannot reach it. Alcoholic beverages can cause weakness in a pet and if enough has been consumed, it can kill your animal. Pets can also be harmed from fruit and nuts. Macadamia nuts, for instance, can affect the digestive, nervous and muscle systems of dogs if consumed. Grapes and raisins are also something to worry about because they are foods that contain a high level of iron. The amount of iron in raisins can cause damage to a dog's kidneys. Such damage is almost always irreversible and potentially fatal. If you are cooking with any of these foods, make sure to clean up well and ensure your dog will have zero chance of consuming them. Another harmful product to pets is one we find delectable.and chances are, so do your pets! Chocolate is used in many recipes or left out as a treat in candy dishes for guests to snack on. However, the shocking truth is that just four to five ounces of chocolate can be toxic to dogs or cats (and fatal to pet parrots). Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, death. As a pet owner, it is very important to keep your pet safe from any problems that can arise. With the stresses of the holiday season, taking the proper precautions to keep your pet safe will be one less stressful item with which you will have to deal.
Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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