Love, Care, Safety, forever!
By David the Dogman
Christmas is not always a good time for our pets.
It is important to keep pets away from these items:
Chocolate: the substance that is harmful in chocolate is called theobromine. This is a naturally occurring alkaloid found
in the cocoa bean and it can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets. The chocolate acts like a stimulant and causes increased heart rate, irregular heart beat and may even cause seizures. Smaller doses of chocolate can trigger vomiting and diarrhea and these symptoms could lead to dehydration if they are not treated immediately. Large doses can also be fatal! Make sure your children understand that feeding chocolate to your pet will make him sick. Chocolate is also toxic to cats, but they do not tend to have a sweet tooth. Nevertheless, cat owners should
still keep the chocolates out of the way of kitty.
To determine what a lethal dose of theobromine is would depend on the size of the animal and the type of chocolate. Baking chocolate is the most lethal as it contains six to nine times as much theobromine as milk chocolate. In the event of your dog or cat getting at the Christmas chocolates,
call your veterinarian. Try to determine the amount and type of chocolate the animal has ingested in order to help the vet in assessing the situation to form an accurate diagnosis
and treatment plan.
Poinsettia: Dogs and cats alike find plants irresistible. Some dogs may be able to ingest an entire poinsettia plant with no ill effects. However veterinarian toxicologists have reported seeing animals with stomach or mouth irritation from
just a small amount of the plant.
Mistletoe: This plant is even more toxic than poinsettia (particularly the berries). Other plants that you might have around your house during the holidays that are also dangerous to animals are: Christmas rose, English holly,
Jerusalem cherry and Amaryllis
Take note of this vets poem:
"Holly berries are red, and mistletoes green.
If Fido eats either, he'll have to be seen!"
Tinsel: This decoration has proven to be one of the most lethal for cats. Cats go crazy for tinsel (why not, it shines, moves with the slightest breeze and hangs down tantalizingly from the boughs of the Christmas tree). Ingested tinsel can get tangled in the cat's intestines and most cats then need surgery
in order to save their lives.
Turkey: Animals cannot digest turkey as well as humans. Turkey skin will probably give your dog a dose of diarrhea - just what you do not want to be cleaning up over Christmas! Poultry
bones should not be offered to your pet either, as they splinter easily and could become lodged in the pet's throat or perforate its intestinal tract. You'll just have to look the other way
when those big pleading eyes stare at you from under the Christmas table. Any rich holiday foods that are high in fat are bad for your pet and can cause gastrointestinal problems.
No Christmas cake for Fido!
The Christmas Tree: Dogs and cats alike love to eat not only
the tinsel but small ornaments and these can cause blockages
or perforation of the intestinal tract. If your puppy chews,
make sure he can't get to the electrical cords.
Christmas Presents: Gift-wrapped parcels are very inviting to a dog. Anticipate that your dog will want to investigate presents, and make sure they are out of reach.
Make sure that Santa does not leave any presents in the same room as the dog - or you might get up on Christmas morning to find that the dog has opened them all for you!
Commitment, Firmness, but Kindness
Christmas trees are pretty but watch out your pet might be fascinated with the decorations. It is a good idea to keep the tree off the floor and to keep any electrical wires out of reach from pets. The tree lights should only be switched on when pets can be supervised. How upset will you be if the dog pulls the Christmas tree over? If the answer is "Very!", it is worth thinking about placing the tree somewhere safer. Or put a picture hook in the ceiling and tie the top of the tree to the hook so that the tree cannot fall over.
Many dogs and cats have swallowed decorations, cracker ornaments and tinsel threads. Watch out for those fruit bowls, which might have walnuts, peach stones and Brazil nuts. By just putting the decorations and fruit a bit higher than usual, you can make your home a much safer place for your pet. Christmas is the time that we feast and drink and of course we are apt to overeat, but I am afraid that dogs
often suffer the worst for overeating.
Alcohol
Pets should never be given any form of alcohol - no matter
how amusing this may seem at the time! Yes, I agree that there is no problem giving your pet a Christmas treat, but please avoid fatty scraps and do feed in moderation. Never leave
tempting treats lying around the floor and remind the children not to feed sweets to the family pet. Do not leave it to chance! By assuming that your pet will do some damage, and by taking some avoiding action, both you and your pets will be able
to enjoy a safe and happy Christmas.
Commitment, Firmness, but Kindness
By David the Dogma
with these Safety Tips from the Massachusetts Society
for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals
~Holiday decorations ~ such as tinsel, lights and ornaments can be tempting but dangerous playthings for pets. Keep pets away from holiday trimmings and poisonous holiday plants such as mistletoe and holly. Also keep animals that like to chew away from light cords. And, remember to secure the Christmas tree to prevent it from falling on playful pets.
~Give pets nutritious snacks. Rich holiday foods ~ especially
chocolate ~ can be hazardous for pets. Give pets treats
that are specially made for their sensitive stomachs.
~Select safe pet toys. Buy toys that do not have sharp edges
or removable parts and cannot be shredded or ingested.
~Give pets the best gift of all ~ your time. Set aside time
everyday to play and socialize with your pet.
No other gift will mean as much to your pet.
~Pets make wonderful companions but should not be given as
gifts. Give a pet adoption gift certificate to the prospective
pet owner on your list. This will allow the person
to choose the right type of pet at the time when he or she
is ready to make the commitment.
~Think of less fortunate animals this holiday. By spaying
and neutering pets, volunteering at a humane society,
donating blankets and pet toys to a shelter, or reporting
cruelty to any animal, people will be helping the
less fortunate animals this holiday season.
~Make travel plans with pets ahead of time. Find accommodations that allow pets by contacting your destination city's division of tourism. If traveling by car, provide frequent rest and water stops for your pet.
~Always have current identification on your pet with an
alternate phone number when you are away. If your pet is staying home, contact a reputable pet sitter or find a kennel that meets all necessary requirements for a quality establishment, such as a sanitary and safe environment
and a qualified, caring staff.
~If there is no alternative to air travel, take precautions for
your pet's safety. If possible, take your small pet with you on
the plane in a carrier that fits under your seat. If your pet
must travel in the cargo hold, select a carrier with proper
ventilation on at least three sides and room to allow the
animal to stand and turn around. Put a blanket in the carrier for warmth. Avoid using a muzzle during the flight. Have
your pet examined by its veterinarian before the flight
and get a direct flight during temperatures that are
neither too cold nor too hot.
Note: Short-faced breeds of dogs such as Pugs, Pekingese or
Boxers and animals with heart or lung disease should use an
alternate mode of transportation. Dogs with these characteristics have difficulty handling the rapid breathing associated with travel-induced stress.
"This is the time of year that I ask you
all to help you local animal rescue society."
"Thank you!"
'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!
But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways.
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew,
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children:, "don't come when they call",
we "bark when they leave us", climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew,
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse - left to roam,
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye,
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."
So now here we are, all confused and alone,
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer,
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads,
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears,
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn,
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year,
can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.
Member of The British Police Service Canine Association.
Author of David the Dogman's A-Z Guide to Dogs
ISBN 8489954089 also available via
http://www.thedogman.net
Copyright (c) 2000 by David the Dogman
Protecting Children and Animals
from Abuse, Neglect and Cruelty!
