Holiday Issues

Holidays bring special cards, gifts decorated with ribbons, tinsel or yarn, and special decorations like Christmas trees.

Unfortunately, animals appreciate these items, as well — and many of them can cause serious damage.

Christmas trees 

• Anchor trees securely. 
• Climbing cats and dogs with wagging tails can knock over your tree. 
• Hang breakable, glass ornaments well out of reach. The small glass and metal fastenings can be stepped on or even swallowed by your pet. 
• Keep tinsel, ribbons and garland out of pets' reach, especially cats that are intrigued by them. These can become lodged in their intestines, cause obstructions and lead to surgery or death. 
• Clean up pine needles frequently. They can be toxic when eaten by your pet. 
• Prevent your pet from drinking water in the tree stand if you have added preservative chemicals. These can be poisonous to pets. Also, stagnant water can contain bacteria, which may lead to vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. 

Holiday house plants 
Although they add a warm touch, many plants can harm your pets. Keep these potentially dangerous bloomers well out of reach.

• Lilies can be deadly to cats, and many types can cause cats to have kidney failure. 
• Poinsettias, although not as toxic as people often think, can upset your pet's digestive system. Mistletoe, especially the berries, is highly toxic, can cause stomach upset and has the potential to cause fatal heart problems. 
• Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and lethargy. 
• Certain types of ivy, such as English ivy, can also cause severe harm. 
• Amaryllis can cause vomiting and diarrhea. 
• Hibiscus can cause diarrhea. 

To keep your pet safe year-round, view a list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Lights, candles and fragrance 

• Keep lights and extension cords safely secured or covered to deter chewing, which can lead to electric shock or even electrocution. Better yet, invest in pet-proof extension cords, or spray with products such as Bitter Apple or Chew Stop. 
• Candles can be fragrant and enticing to pets. But they can be a fire hazard if knocked over by an exuberant pet, and the fumes can be harmful to birds. 
• Liquid potpourri and sachets, popular during the holidays, can be very dangerous. Exposure can cause skin or oral damage to your pet and may cause illness or death. 

Celebrate Pet Safety this Memorial Day

As the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day is a great excuse to get outdoors. But whether you’re partying, barbequing, or just soaking up some rays, it’s important to keep your pet’s safety in mind at all times. To prevent any Memorial Day mishaps, we’ve put together five tips to help protect animals during the “Dog Days” of the season.

Party Smart

Barbequing is one of the best parts of Memorial Day, but remember that the food and drink you serve your guests may be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from animals, and remind guests not to give them any table scraps or snacks. Raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, and avocado are all common at barbeques—and they’re all especially toxic to animals.

Be Cool Near the Pool

Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers! Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Also, try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains potentially dangerous chemicals like chlorine.

Skip the Spray

Unless specifically designed for animals, insect repellant and sunscreen can be toxic to pets. Signs of repellent toxicity include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. DEET, a common insecticide in products for humans, may cause neurological issues in dogs.

Made in the Shade

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so if you’re spending time outside, give them plenty of fresh, clean water and make sure they have a shady place to get out of the sun. Note that animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. 

IDs, Please

Time spent outdoors comes with the added risk of pets escaping. Make sure that your pet is fitted with a microchip or ID tag with identifying information, or both. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Source: http://www.aspca.org/blog/celebrate-pet-safety-memorial-day