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The holiday season is filled with lots of excitement; therefore it is simple to forget about some common hazards around and outside of the house that can endanger your pets. The staff at Silver Maple Veterinary Clinic would like to share some helpful winter safety tips with you to ensure your pet is safe in the winter months ahead.
When the weather changes and snow and ice are among us there are a few things to keep in mind. Salt, antifreeze and other dangerous chemicals can be ingested by your pet as they lick their paws. Be sure to rinse off any salt that may have accumulated on their feet and clean up any antifreeze that may be on your garage floor or driveway.
As we all know cats love to curl up in warm places. Sometimes for outside cats this can potentially cause a problem. Many times cats will sleep under the hoods or in the wheel wells of vehicles looking for warmth and shelter. It is always a good idea to bang on the hood or beep the horn of the car before starting the engine. If your pet enjoys going for car rides, be sure not to leave him or her alone in the car. When it is cold outside a car can act as a refrigerator holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze.
Decorating for the holidays can be a joyful time for all, including pets. Many of us have pets that are mischievous, for this reason we should take a minute to be sure all bases are covered. For starters, be sure your tree is secure in its stand so that it can’t be knocked over. If you add anything other than water to your tree stand cover it to prevent your pet from drinking. |
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Tinsel, string and ribbon may keep you cat busy for hours; however if ingested can cause choking and even intestinal blockages. Seasonal plants such as holly, poinsettias and mistletoe are poisonous so keep them out of your pets reach. If ingested please contact Silver Maple Veterinary Clinic immediately.
One of the best parts of the holiday season is all of the goodies. An occasional treat from your holiday table may be harmless but too much table food can cause upset stomach. Be cautious when throwing away turkey, ham or pork bones because they can become lodged in the throat or splinter and injure internal organs. Even though we try to keep our homes safe for our pets, accidents do happen. If you have any questions or concerns our staff at Silver Maple would be more than happy to help you out, and remember a healthy pet will tolerate winter stress much better than an unhealthy one so be sure your pet is current on vaccination and medical care!
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