Remember Antifreeze warning be careful with ALL pets!!

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Do not share your holiday meals or goodies with your pet. Poultry bones, scraps, and string are dangerous. Dispose of them in a pet-proof container. Rich holiday foods- especially chocolate can be hazardous for pets. Give pets treats that are specially made for their sensitive stomachs. Tell your visitors about the "No feeding the pets" rule.
 

                                    Winter

Beware of antifreeze!!! In just tiny amounts about 1/4tsp for a small dog or cat and 2tsp for a large dog is deadly if ingested. Clean up spills immediately, store chemicals securely away from pets, and look for products containing propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.

Bring all pets indoors during frigid weather. Older, very young, or ill pets, pets not acclimated to the cold,and certain short haired breeds of dogs are especially sensitive to the cold. Trips outside should be kept brief to prevent frostbite.

Keep cats indoors. Free-roaming cats may curl up in wheel wells or under the warm hoods of cars. before starting the engine, bang on the hood or press the car horn to alert any sleeping animals.

Provide extra calories. Animals that are active outside may need extra nutritional calories in their diet to give them added energy needed in colder weather.This does not mean an excuse for extra "people food".

Shelter your pet!! If dogs spend time outside, they should be provided with proper shelter, which is dry and secure from the wind and weather. Fresh hay or cedar shavings provide dry bedding materials. The shelter should have a floor elevated from the ground.

Remove ice, snow,sand and salt. Thoroughly wipe off pets' foot pads and stomach fur with warm water when they come in from outside. Ice, rock salt and sand can be extremely irritating to animals skin.

Always supervise and keep your pet on a leash. Winter can spell trouble for pets that wander onto half frozen lakes and ponds. Plus, mounds of snow make it difficult to see animals running in the street.

Never leave your pet in the car. just as the sweltering heat of a car can kill pets, frigid temperatures can easily freeze pets do death. Never leave your pet in a running car.

Provide pets with a warm, draft free place to sleep. Caged pets, such as birds, hamsters and guinea pigs are especially sensitive to cold drafts. Keep cages in a warm dry area of the house.

Reprinted from WZZM 13 Advance Newspapers Weather Guide 2002

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A happy and healthy holiday season for your furry loved ones

 The holiday season is a magical time of year, both for us and for our four-legged best friends.

But there are a few important precautions you can take to keep your festivities from taking a tragic turn. Many thanks to Michael’s Pet Sitting of NYC for this wonderful list of holiday pet safety tips:

If you decorate with plants, be careful. Cats, dogs and birds can nibble household plants, and many, including mistletoe and some poinsettias, can make your pet very ill. Be sure your holiday greenery is out of your pet’s reach.

The same is true if you have a Christmas tree. Put only unbreakable, nontoxic decorations at the bottom of the tree so there is no danger of your little ones batting a glass ball and breaking it, or of your pup chewing up your grandmother’s antique bubble lights.

Why not put some kitty baubles or doggie toys on the lower branches instead? Or, if you have both pets and kids, put the tree and gifts into a playpen. It may not stop Kitty, but at least the tree won’t easily fall down if she climbs it.

If you have a live tree, wrap the base so your pets won’t drink from the tree’s water, and keep the birds away from the tree. Many modern live trees are covered in chemicals that can be toxic to your little friends.


It’s also important to be especially careful with candles. Your cat or bird may be enticed by the flicker of the flame, and could singe his whiskers or worse. Place glass “hurricane lanterns” or other attractive covers over candles to protect your home and your pets.

On New Years Eve, plan to keep your pets from becoming frightened by the traditional firecrackers and other noisy merriment. Some dogs respond to fireworks with extreme fear or by trying like hell to escape from the yard. Consider leaving them inside if you go out to celebrate.

Pets often are stressed by the changes in household routine during the holidays, especially if you are feeling stressed yourself. Cats and dogs often respond to stress by becoming hyper, hysterical or destructive, and some may simply retreat.

Why not plan to spend some special time with your pets to calm yourself and reassure them during this hectic time? An extra trip to the dog park or game of tug can do wonders for you both. And if your pet is especially upset by strangers visiting, prepare a refuge where she can go to escape the crowd.

In the chaos of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose track of important safety information. Take the time to look up the nearest 24 hour emergency vet to where you and your pets will be celebrating. Keep the number for the National Animal Poison Control Center handy as well– 1-888-4ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435.