Happy Howlidays!
Pet Tails: Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe & Sound Part 2
So many delectable treats and goodies... if they smell good to us, can you imagine what they smell like to our pooches with between 100 million and 300 million olfactory (smell) receptors? These tips from the American Veterinary Medicine Association can help keep the happy holidays from becoming not-so-happy.
Keep people food away from pets, and instruct everyone else to do the same. If you want to share holiday treats with your pets, make or buy treats formulated just for them. The following people foods are especially dangerous for pets:
• Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats.
• Other sweets and baked goods also should be kept out of reach. They might be too rich, and they may contain xylitol, which has been linked to liver failure and death in dogs.
• Table scraps should be scrapped as these can be hard for pets to digest and can cause pancreatitis. Bones can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Plus, many foods can be poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins, and grapes.
• Unbaked yeast dough can cause problems, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.
Signs that your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t have include sudden behavior changes, depression, pain, loss of appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea. If your pet has any of these signs, call your vet immediately and you can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
Adopt, don’t shop. For more information on how you can adopt your furever friend, volunteer at the shelter or to be considered as a foster, reach out to the Humane Society of McDonough County, and follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/HSMCIL.
