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Happy Holidays 2006

Holiday festivities can mean health catastrophes for pets

By JACKIE RIPLEY
Published December 17, 2006

Shopping malls and grocery stores happily gear up for the holiday season rush. Emergency rooms for animals also gear up, only not so happily.

"The holiday season is the busiest time for emergency clinics," said Jennifer Vickery, spokeswoman for Florida Veterinary Specialists.

That's why the Busch Boulevard-area veterinary hospital has issued a list of tips to keep your pet safe this holiday season.

The list includes keeping electrical cords and tree lights away from puppies and kittens who might bite them and be electrocuted. It also warns owners to keep Christmas tree ornaments above Fido's eye level because they look like the perfect toy to chomp down on.

Tinsel is another hazard for cats since its strong fiber can bunch up in the intestine, creating a surgical emergency.

"Even the water under the Christmas tree can be toxic to your pets," Vickery said.

Cooking, too, can be hazardous. Chocolate is dangerous to your pet, with dark chocolate and bakers chocolate being the most dangerous.

Bread dough and yeast, if ingested before baking, can create a serous medical emergency as well.

The yeast produces ethanol, which can lead to alcohol poisoning, stomach distension and potential torsion.

High-fat meals from the dinner table can lead to pancreatitis, a potentially fatal condition. Symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting and decreased appetite.

And be wary of poultry bones. They can become lodged in the throat or digestive tract, causing obstruction or death.

Plants, too, can cause problems. Poinsettias and holly can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. In cats, ingestion of lilies can cause kidney failure.

"It's great to think about these things ahead of time," Vickery said. "That way pet owners can avoid a trip to the emergency room when they should be enjoying themselves."

Jackie Ripley can be reached at ripley@sptimes.com or at 813 269-5308.

[Last modified December 16, 2006, 21:02:55]