5 Tips for New Year’s Eve – From Cesar Millan
27 Dec 2009
photo credit: Abigail Silvester
Tips for New Year’s – I read these tips on Cesar Millan’s Newsletter…If you have a dog, you should subscribe to this, it’s free, it’s informative!!
Fireworks and noisemakers; confetti and champagne – Cesar warns that even though these are the makings of a successful New Year’s bash, they are certainly potential hazards for your four-legged family member.
Make your party and party favorites pet-safe.
- Confetti can cause problems in the digestive system if your dog decides to eat this stuff.
- If you have a puppy, or even an older dog that will eat everything, make sure you get paper-based confetti because it is generally safer than plastic or metallic-based varieties.
Don’t share the champagne with your dog. Alcohol is NOT a happy way for your dog to finish the old year. And be sure to clean up any glasses that are within your dog’s reach. Every year, hundreds of dogs die from alcohol poisoning. Sharing your bubbly will be detrimental for your dog. If you’re not sure if your dog has ingested alcohol, knowing the signs can help you realize there is a problem: vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing, and tremors.
Prepare for your dog’s reaction to fireworks and noisemakers. The best plan is prevention. If you’re not sure how your dog will react, make sure he is in a safe area and wearing proper id.
- Don’t take your dog to fire work areas if you can help it.
- Preventative measures are always best. Prepare to protect your dog before the noise starts. Help your dog to get through the night.
Give your dog a quiet place to retreat from the party. If you are partying in the new year, your kids may not be the only cranky ones the next morning. If your dog is NOT used to long partying, consistent noise, make sure you allow your dog some “away time”.
Keep emergency contact information handy! During any party where your dog might slip into the trash can unnoticed, it’s a good idea to keep contact information for a 24-hour clinic handy, as well as the number for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center National Hotline: 888-426-4435.
Find out the emergency numbers in your area. You should always have it posted where you post your family emergency numbers…after all, your canine buddy is part of your family!!
THANKS CESAR MILLAN, THE DOG WHISPERER
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2 Responses
2009 Dec 30
Thanks for spreading the word on pet safety! You can also call Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control, which is more cost effective at $35/case vs ASPCA’s $60-65/case. You can reach Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 or at our website: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Holiday Toxin Tips from Pet Poison Helpline: Help Keep Your Pet Safe
Tips on holiday foods, plants and decorations that can put your pet at risk.
The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about a potentially poisoned pet. Below is a list of holiday-related decorations, plants and food items that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets.
• Holiday Ornaments: When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as snow globes or bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.
• Tinsel: If you own a cat, forgo the tinsel. What looks like a shiny toy to your cat can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a cat’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, cats run the risk of severe injury to, or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery.
• Plants: Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants are only mildly toxic. Far more worrisome are holiday bouquets containing lilies, holly or mistletoe.
“Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, Easter and day lilies, are the most dangerous plants for cats,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant direct of Pet Poison Helpline. “The ingestion of one to two leaves or flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.”
Other yuletide pants such as holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets and can cause gastrointestinal upset and even heart arrhythmias if ingested.
• Alcohol: Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.
• Holiday Foods: With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your pets. Keep your pet on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak in treats. Foods that can present problems:
- Foods containing grapes, raisins and currents (such as fruit cakes) can result in kidney failure in dogs.
- Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.
- Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
- Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
• Imported Snow Globes: Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size), can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.
• Liquid Potpourri: Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting—but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs aren’t as sensitive, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry—so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.
When it comes to the holidays, the best thing a pet owner can do is get educated on common household toxins and pet-proof your home accordingly. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.
About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
2010 Jan 02
My cat hates fireworks
Happy new year.