Contact: Susan Kemenyas, Board Secretary                     For Immediate release

Humane Society of Morgan County

Phone: 304-258-7841

Email: Mrs_K_25411@yahoo.com

HUMANE SOCIETY OFFERS TIPS TO KEEP PETS SAFE DURING HOLIDAYS

In an effort to help area pet owners keep their pets safe during the holiday season and into the New Year, The Humane Society of Morgan County offers the following practical safety tips. Avoid letting your pet have any holiday food items that could cause serious problems for them. Animals can have severe reactions or suffer serious health complication from accidentally ingesting alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, moldy or spoiled foods, things containing onions or garlic (including their powdered forms), fatty foods, salt and yeast dough. 

Updated hazard information - please click here for the latest.

Lilies of various types, often found in holiday flower arrangements, can cause kidney failure in cats. Poinsettias, irritating to the mouth and stomach, may cause vomiting or nausea. Mistletoe causes gastrointestinal upset and has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy. Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water breed bacteria, which can lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Cover up or hide electric cords to avoid animal exposure to them. If chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Ribbons, string, yarn and tinsel can cause intestinal obstruction. Ingested batteries can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. Ingested Glass ornaments can damage the gastrointestinal tract.  

Human medication is potentially lethal to animals even in very small dosages. Keep all medications out of the reach of your pets, preferably in closed cabinets. Remind holiday guests to store their medications safely as well.  

Antifreeze's pleasant taste can be deadly in the minutest amounts. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and keep in secured cabinets. If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian right away! Liquid potpourris can burn your pet and pose an ingestion hazard. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots, or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming. Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage. Ingested ice melting products can irritate skin and mouth. Depending on the ingredients and the quantity, signs of poisoning would include excessive drooling, depression, and vomiting. Rodent killers, used more commonly during colder weather, should be placed in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.  

During the holidays, many veterinary clinics have limited office hours. In some cases, pet owners try to medicate their animals without their veterinarian's advice. Your animal may become poisoned in spite of your best preventative efforts. Keep on hand telephone numbers for your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service Frederick Emergency Animal Hospital 301-662-6622, Valley Emergency Veterinary in Winchester 540-662-7811 and the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP) in a convenient location. If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately.