The holiday season can be a wonderful time for gatherings with family and overall joy. However, it can also provide some seasonal hazards for our furry friends.
Dr. Christopher Lapsley of Village Animal Clinic offers the best ways to make sure everyone is enjoying the most "wonderful time of the year."
Avoid giving your pet the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
- Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
- Onions, onion powder
- Fatty foods
- Salt
- Yeast dough
Plants that can cause serious problems
- Lilies that may be found in holiday flower arrangements could be deadly to your cat. Many types of lily, such as Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, and the Casa Blanca, can cause kidney failure in cats.
- Poinsettias - If ingested, poinsettias can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.
- Mistletoe - Ingestion usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
- Holly - Ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.
- Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
