Animal Care Tips:
Winter and Holiday Safety

Food meant for humans can be toxic to pets. Chocolate and macadamia nuts are two examples. Animals may not be accustomed to the fatty content of our meats, and poultry bones can shatter. Old holiday leftovers can harbor fungal toxins. Bread dough can swell up in a pet's stomach and cause a surgical emergency. Alcoholic beverages may cause death.

Holiday decorations can be enticing to pets, but may contain strings, pins or other items that can lodge in the pet's throat or digestive tract. Be especially careful of tinsel. Potpourri contains detergents that can damage a pet's mouth, esophagus and GI tract. Plants such as holly and mistletoe are toxic.

Antifreeze has a sweet attractive taste, but ingestion can be fatal. It is extremely dangerous. Keep pets away from spills, open containers, and residue.

Extreme temperatures mean that animals kept out of doors need adequate shelter and a supply of unfrozen water. If you don't have a deicer or water heater, you should provide fresh slightly warm water at least twice a day. Consider insulating dog houses and construct them to be just slightly larger than the pet.

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