Pet Safety 101: Holiday Hazards You *MUST* Avoid

 

While we prepare to spend Thanksgiving Day with friends and family, there are often some hidden dangers to our pets that can be overlooked in the excitement. Below are six hazards to avoid to make sure that ALL members of your family have a safe and happy day. 

#1 - Hot Ranges and Burners. Be sure to keep your pets out of the kitchen and off the counter/stove! With so much cooking going on, a cat or dog is likely to try and investigate the good smells that are tantalizing their taste buds. Soft pads on their feet will burn quickly and easily so this is definitely a big one to keep an eye out for!

#2 - Bones. I can’t emphasize this enough! Some loving pet parents believe that a scrap bone is a kind gesture to include their pets on the festivities and this cannot be any further from the truth. Bone fragments, especially turkey and chicken bones, splinter easily and can cause internal bleeding and other life threatening situations. 

#3 - Table Scraps. It’s a good time of year to remember that animals cannot eat the same foods we do. Many common ingredients used in holiday dishes are poisonous or toxic to pets (onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, grapes, turkey/chicken skin, etc. etc.). It’s always best to err on the side of caution and avoid table scraps all-together.

#4 - Watch Your Doors. When entertaining guests during the holidays, it’s good to remember that not all pets handle the company or excitement well and often times guests may not have the animals and their safety immediately on their mind. Often times, entry doors get left open for extended periods of time which gives your pet the perfect chance to escape. This actually happened to someone in my family one year – their dog ran out into the street after the front door was left open by a guest and was hit by a car...thankfully her injuries were not life threatening. A scary lesson to learn the hard way!

#5: - Candles. With all the hustle and bustle during holiday gatherings, attention usually isn’t paid to mundane things such as candles. If you have pets and also love candles, holiday events may be a good time to forgo them. It is very easy for a cat or dog…or guest…to knock a lit candle over and cause a fire. Instead, opt for pre-lit electronic candles. 

#6: - Turkey Strings. The string used to wrap and cook turkeys is a cat fantasy come to life. Please immediately discard any string and foil in a tightly closed trash can. Strings can cause choking and intestinal blockage which could be deadly. 

We hope these tips serve as a good reminder. From our home to yours, all of us at Jonah’s Place wish you and your pets a Safe, Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Michelle Brockman, Leslie Mendenhall and Stephanie Perkins

JonahsPlace.org

Reference: Petplace.com

**Warning** The Lethal Food Lurking in Your Pantry!

I had a recent scare with our dog Jake which reminded me of a time when I was very naive about what was, and wasn’t, toxic to dogs. Jake is a canine trash can. If he can eat it he will eat it. Not even to our approval, just because that’s what he does. He eats. Hydrogen peroxide induced vomiting has become the main staple in my first aid routine. Have you ever had a dog like that? That just eats everything? Now, a little disclaimer: we are very responsible pet owners and do not encourage or condone this behavior. Sometimes animals just act like, well….animals!

 

A few days ago Jake heard the sound of commotion in the kitchen and decided to come check things out. Before we even realized it, the bag of grapes that was one second ago on the kitchen counter, was now on the floor. I’m sure you can imagine what happened. Jake grabbed the bag and inhaled the grapes. I am so thankful that I knew how toxic and downright deadly grapes (and raisins) are to dogs (and cats)! I immediately administered hydrogen peroxide and within ten minutes or so Jake threw up his loot. Did you know that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and cats? If not, pay close attention!

This is what PetMD has to say about the matter:

“Grape and raisin (dried grapes) toxicity is well documented in dogs. Although the exact substance that causes the toxic reaction is not yet known, it has been shown that even small amounts of grapes or raisins can prove to be fatally toxic for a dog. Dogs of any age, breed, or gender may be affected.”

Again, this does not just apply to dogs. If you have animals you must be very careful to ensure that they do not have any opportunity to ingest this yummy but deadly fruit. After Jake’s last counter diving episode, my husband and I decided that the consequences of our dog’s potential grape and raisin eating just weren’t worth it and they will no longer be on the grocery list. Yes, we love our pets that much.

Snack on!

Michelle Brockman

Jonah’s Place, Inc.

Reference:

PetMD

http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/digestive/e_dg_grape_raisin_toxicity#.UkOXRD95GSo