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The leaves have either turned, or have taken a plunge off their branches littering sidewalks and lawns with a seemingly endless blanket. The days are getting shorter and, despite us gaining an additional hour of sleep near the beginning of the month, many of us find ourselves heading into work and home in near darkness. Such is Mother Nature’s way of heralding the beginning of the mad rush towards the end of the year, with the first of the colder holidays, Thanksgiving. To ensure that you and your family can enjoy a worry-free holiday without having to add a visit to the veterinarian to all the other chores of the season, here are a few reminders of things to watch out for during this time of the year.
Thoughts of Thanksgiving for me inevitably lead to food. Several pet dangers lurk in the sidelines of our gastronomical buffet. Make sure you dispose of any turkey or other food packaging quickly and appropriately. All the strings, plastic holders and bags become redolent with meat-smell, ideally designed to lure even the most snobby of pet gourmands. These items can be ingested before you know it, causing damage or blockage of our furry friends’ intestines. It’s also important to make sure you don’t leave these items unattended on kitchen counters or tables as pets can be very crafty about swiping things.
Once the food is cooked, feeding table scraps can cause trouble, too. Both dogs and cats can suffer from overeating (a common thing for all during this time of year) and, worse, can develop pancreatitis, a painful and potentially hard to treat condition that has been linked to excess eating and fatty foods. Remember too that certain food items are particularly toxic to pets and be sure that everyone in the family and those visiting know what it forbidden, such as chocolate and raisins. Make sure pets aren’t given any bones either. Though these seem like the ideal treat for that patient beggar they can splinter while traveling through the intestines causing all kinds of havoc.
Other dangers that can rear their ugly head at this time of year include “fiery” items. As the days grow colder and there is less light we tend to reach for winter favorites, such as fireplaces and candles. Pets may be drawn to either the warmth provided by a fireplace, or the flickering of a candle. Make sure to avoid all burn situations by protecting your pets from open flames, just as you would protect a small child. Be particularly careful with cats as they are notorious for jumping on tables with lit candles and flicking their tails through the flame.
Finally, decorations can pose yet another danger. Be they solid or liquid in nature, such as colorful fall table ornaments or candles, or scented liquids, the items can often attract unwanted attention from your pets. These items, when licked, chewed or eaten, can cause a variety of problems including irritation of the mouth or throat, blockages or toxicity. It is thus important to ensure that these items are out of the reach of inquiring mouths. Flower decorations can also pose a problem. Any time you are bringing new plants or flowers into the home, check on their potential toxicity by going to the ASPCA s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants site.
However, don’t forget that this is a time to celebrate with friends and family, so do what I do and kick back on the couch with a nice hot cup of tea while enjoying the company of your pets.