Absolut Bullmarket Puppy Owner's Survival Manual - Does this only happen in the movies or could it occur in your home? One such holiday mishap, involved a Norwegian Elkhound named Lupe.
Tom Rudolph, an engineer from Seattle, Washington said Lupe chewed through
an extension cord and "got a good zap. The charge sliced open her
tongue and the vet had to stitch it up. She had no other side effects
but you can still see the depression in her tongue." Gretchen Plemmons,
owner of CyberPet Internet web site, based in Eureka, Montana, told of
an emergency with a dog she'd rescued one Christmas. Roger, a Chinese
Shar Pei, had been found wandering the streets. Plemmons placed the dog
in a permanent home for the holidays. Delighted at having his own packages
to open, Roger happily proceeded to eat a Foos ball, one of the children's
presents. Plemmons said, "The ball stuck in the dog's intestines.
He had to have $700 worth of surgery. He was fine afterwards but that
holiday was spent trying to save the dog." If you don't want your celebrations to resemble the Griswold's "Christmas
Vacation," here are some guidelines for dog-proofing your home from
holiday hazards. Dr. Paul Howell, DVM at Animal General in New York City said, "Holiday
[pet] safety isn't so different from other times of the year, except
the dog gets forgotten in the chaos. The biggest hazard is when so much
is going on in the house and you wonder, 'Gee, how's the dog doing? I
haven't seen him.' Don't lose sight of your pet in the midst of celebrating.
Use common sense. The most important advice is to remain aware of potential
problems." Delightful but deadly. Although some mishaps turn out alright, the holiday season has the
potential to inadvertently bring your dog serious illness or injury.
What items can cause problems? How can you safely prepare? For a handy
reference, check the alphabetic list below. * Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is moderately toxic,
and, drunken dogs are not cute. One ounce of a 20- to 40-proof beverage
can cause alcohol poisoning or coma in a small dog. * Angel hair. Made from spun glass. Irritating to
skin, possible low toxicity if ingested, can cause cuts, damage the eyes
or create intestinal blockage. * Artificial snow, flocking. Possibly poisonous, can
cause digestive upset; respiratory irritant if inhaled. Tip: Spray only
on upper corners of high windows. * Candles. Dogs can be burnt by flame or dripping
wax, or have whiskers and fur singed. Fire hazard to house if pet knocks
over. Tip: Save candles for the dining room table and don't burn where
pet is unattended. * Electric cords. Chewing on cords can cause pets
to be shocked, burned, even electrocuted. Tip: Run through PVC piping,
cover (e.g., using rugs) or secure to floor, placing behind or beneath
heavy furniture. * Fasteners for decorations: glue, rubberbands, staples,
string, tacks, tape. Can cause mild pain, serious complications, even
death if swallowed. Tip: Store in a secure spot. Discard used items when
decorations are removed. * Fire/fireplaces: ashes, popping wood, fire/color
salts. Bronchial irritation, burns, skin irritation, digestive distress;
color salts are moderately toxic if ingested. Tip: Keep fire screen in
front of fireplace while in use. Use second screen on floor-level, below
hearth to keep dog further away from sparks. When coals are cool, thoroughly
clean fireplace and close tightly with glass or metal doors. * Food. Bones: Choking, internal punctures, possibly
death; Chocolate: Theobromine poisoning (not all dogs are effected but
potentially fatal in some), vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity,
seizures; Fatty, spicy or sweet foods: gastric upset, dehydration, pancreatitis.
Hot foods: can cause burns and mouth or throat ulcerations. Tip: Don't share holiday goodies with your dog. If you can't resist,
give a healthy treat instead. Keep your dog out of the dining area and
give them their regular dinner while you eat. Don't leave cooking food
unattended; don't set hot dishes near edge of stove or counter. Don't
leave candy, cookies or other snacks where your dog can reach them. * Garbage/food prep items: aluminum foil & pans,
candy wrappers, paper plates, cups and plastic flatware, plastic wrap,
roasting bags, six-pack plastic beverage ring, turkey lacing or skewers.
All items can cause abdominal discomfort, intestinal blockage, internal
bleeding, even death, if eaten; danger of suffocation or choking also
exists; possibility of food-poisoning. Tip: Store garbage under sink, in closet, or in a fastened container. * Guests.
Add to the noise, confusion and stress for your pet. Dogs can be stepped
on or unsupervised children can injure them. Pets can escape when visitors
come and go. Tip: "Guests are more likely to feed dogs than owners.
Multiple guests each feeding 'just a little bite' adds up to quite a
lot of food. Advise your guests not to feed your dog," said Dr.
Mike Richards, a veterinarian from Cobbs Creek, Virginia and publisher
of the VetInfo Digest. Also, if guests are uncomfortable around dogs, or if there will be
activity that causes your dog anxiety, board them for the holidays. At
home, don't put dogs to bed in guests' rooms. Keep your dog in his or
her regular spot. If their are is in a location where the dog may become
distressed, move them to a quieter room. * Lights, decorative. Dogs can become tangled in the
strands. Can cause burns and cuts. Same hazards as electric cords. "Bubbling" lights,
made of methylene chloride, can be moderately toxic. Tip: String together
through interior of tree; run connecting cord underneath tree skirt. * Ornaments: edible or "food strings," garlands,
glass, hooks, straight pins. Food ornaments can be moderately toxic,
causing gastric upset. All items have the potential to cause fatal complications
if ingested. Tip: Use ornaments that your dog finds uninteresting. Instead
of hooks, use decorative ribbon to tie on ornaments. * Pet decorations. Never place on pets. May cause
choking or strangulation. Tip: Buy a holiday-print collar for your dog.
If you use a costume on your pet, do not leave them unsupervised. * Potpourri, aerosol fragrance, incense, simmer pots.
Nasal or respiratory irritation, skin rash, stomach upset, burns; can
also cause stomach upset if eaten because it often contains cones, needles
and berries that can be toxic. Tip: Use where dog is not room. * Plants: Christmas cactus, hemlock, holly, ivy, mistletoe,
poinsettia. Range from mildly upsetting to extremely toxic. Can cause
gastro-intestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, coma,
central nervous system or cardiac problems, even death. Tip: Spray leaves
with Bitter Apple repellant. Immediately pick up and discard dead leaves,
stems, or berries. * Ribbon, trim, polystyrene foam packaging, wrapping
foil or paper. Dangerous if eaten. Tip: Wrap packages in area away from
dog. Collect and discard all waste. Put wrapping supplies securely away
when finished using. Give dogs their own packages to open. Wrap loosely
in plain paper and supervise unwrapping. * Tinsel. Can cause intestinal strangulation, obstruction,
internal cuts and abrasions. * Toys. Children's toys have small parts that dogs
can swallow and cause choking, gastric distress or intestinal blockage.
Extensive ingestion of pet toys, such as pig ears or large rawhide bones,
can also cause digestive upset or choking. Tip: Provide dog with appropriate
toys. Supervise playtime, particularly with unusual or untried toys. * Trees (live, including balsam, cedar, juniper, fir
and pine). Sap or preservatives may be mildly toxic, causing mouth or
stomach irritation. Needles cannot be digested and may puncture intestines.
Rambunctious pets may knock over tall trees, cutting themselves on broken
decorations. Male dogs may perceive tree as "indoor plumbing" and
urinate on branches. Tip: Place in room away from dog or put decorative
fencing around. Cover floor under tree with plastic. Anchor to floor
with sturdy weights on stand or tie to wall or ceiling to prevent tipping.
Decorate only the higher limbs, leaving lower ones bare. Fasten all decorations
tightly to branches. In general, don't place decorations within your dog's reach or where
they can climb to them. Consider keeping your dog out of the rooms you
decorate and do only one or two rooms. Put a baby gate across the door
to keep your dog out but allow visual access to where the family will
be. Remind children not to leave food, toys or decorations in places
where the dog can get them. Don't let young children and dogs play together
unsupervised during such a hectic time. Also, provide a quiet place where
your dog can get away from the hustle and bustle. Dr. Richards said, "Pets may have a hard time adjusting to the
increase in activity. They may not handle the stress well. Scheduling
a few minutes each day to play with your dog can make the holidays easier
for them." Janice Barnard, an Animal Behavior Counselor at the ASPCA in New York
City, said, "An annoying thing about the holidays is the lack of
time. It's important to find time to exercise your dog. Otherwise, he
will be more likely to misbehave. An exercised dog is happier and is
less likely to get into trouble." Recognizing and dealing with a problem. Dr Howell noted that pet digestive troubles are prevalent during the
holidays. Dogs that eat anything unusual will manifest classic symptoms
of gastric distress including vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. According to Dr. Tammy Smith, DVM, of Animal Veterinary Emergency Treatment in Parkersburg, West Virginia, most holiday digestive upset is caused by pancreatitis, from eating rich holiday foods. Dr. Smith said, "Pancreatitis hits quickly, has a long recovery period and causes discomfort and a painful abdomen in a dog." Other symptoms that indicate your dog may be in trouble are listlessness, constipation, panting, scratching, swelling, difficulty breathing or an inability to rest comfortably. If you spot these signs in your dog, what should you do? "Be prepared to respond. Usually these problems will not go away on their own," said Dr. Howell. Keep your veterinarian's and emergency animal hospital's numbers close to the phone. Don't wait until it's too late -- call if you suspect a problem. If home treatment is prescribed, Dr. Smith recommends having available 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, PeptoBismol for nausea, and Kaopectate to treat diarrhea. A standard, home first aid kit can be used to treat minor injuries. Your vet will advise you what to do or if treatment in the clinic is needed. Dr Richards said, "Take a little time to prepare. Think about the special risks the holidays impose. Know the location of the emergency vet hospital in your area. Don't panic and give up on finding help. A little foresight might help your pet survive a holiday accident." |