90% of pet poisonings occur in the home.
Here are some hints to help you keep your pets safe over the Festive Season.
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Each year million pet owners unknowingly feed their pets harmful human foods over the festive season such as chocolate, raisins, grapes and macadamia nuts. Vets are asking that pet owners be extra careful this year to protect their pets from eating hazardous substances.
Here is a list of the common household
hazards for you to note keep your pets safe over the festive season. If you are travelling away from home with your pets this holiday season make sure that you are prepared.
1. Chocolate
Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, a bit like
caffeine, which, while tasty, is severely poisonous to cats and dogs. Dogs are
especially attracted to chocolate but metabolise theobromine much more slowly
than we do. Even a small amount of chocolate can make a dog ill and 200gms of
dark chocolate can kill a 20kg dog.
2. Mince Pies and Christmas
Puddings
All grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are toxic to dogs as
are any foods that contain them. So make sure that your dog does not eat Christmas
cake, mince pies, Christmas pudding, etc.
3. Blue Cheese
While delicious to us, blue cheese contains a substance called
roquefortine C to which dogs are extremely sensitive. Although it might smell
tasty to your dog, do keep it out of their reach.
4. Macadamia Nuts
Often lurking in biscuits or eaten as a decadent Christmas
snack, these nuts cause severe illness in dogs so enjoy them yourself but don’t
share with your dog.
5. Garlic, Chives, Onion, Bones
Found in many festive foods like gravy, stuffing and sausages,
all Allium species are poisonous to dogs so beware when offering them any
titbits from the Christmas table.
In addition pets should not be fed cooked bones including turkey bones. Cooked bones are brittle and can splinter and puncture the digestive tract leading to serious injury.
6. Alcohol
Alcohol can cause severe liver and brain damage in animals. As
little as a tablespoon can lead to problems for your cat or dog so make sure
that those special Christmas drinks are well out of the reach of your dogs and
cats.
7. Household Plants
Many common Christmas household plants are
poisonous to our 4 legged friends.
Lilies from the Lilium or Hemerocallis species are very dangerous for cats.
Eating just two or three leaves, or even drinking water from a vase containing
them can be potentially fatal. Foliage from poinsettias, mistletoe and ivy are all mildly toxic to dogs and cats.
8. Snow Globes
Imported versions of the ever popular snow globe can contain
antifreeze. As little as one tablespoon can be fatal for a cat.
9. Candles
They may create a cosy atmosphere, but candle flames can burn
paws and the curious noses of furry friends. There is also fire risk if your
candle is knocked over by an excited pet.
10. Decorations
While playing with Christmas decorations may be tempting to your
pet, it can led to nasty consequences. For example:
- Eating tinsel or tree ornaments can cause dangerous
blockages in your pet’s stomach.
- Cats are curious and will
try to chew on anything, including fairy lights, which can burn and even
electrocute them.
- Salt dough ornaments may
be tasty to dogs. The mix of flour and salt with water can cause a potentially
fatal salt toxicosis.
- Eating a large amount of wrapping
paper could cause an obstruction in the stomach.