|
 Hi
– it’s Emma here – is your house as busy as mine
lately? It’s that time when there’s lots of
cooking, boxes are coming down from the attic and
then strangest of all, Mom and Dad bring a tree
into the living room. They’re so excited about
it with the lights and ornaments but I think
it’s a silly thing to put in the house. My
brother Finnigan is always trying to get a good
‘whiff’ of it.
Mom
and Dad keep talking about all the hazards that
are around this time of year. I heard Mom
telling one of her friends that there is plenty
to be aware of during the holidays. Here’s what
she said:
Poinsettias
were once thought to be highly poisonous. The
toxicity of poinsettias is actually quite low
but ingesting the leaves or flowers can cause
stomach upset and skin, eye and mucous membrane
irritation.
The berries of
some varieties of holly are toxic. They can
cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and possible
central nervous system depression. Keep holly
out of reach and pick up fallen berries
immediately. If berries are ingested, induce
vomiting as soon as possible and seek medical
attention.
Certain varieties of mistletoe
contain toxins that can cause stomach and
intestinal irritation, diarrhea, and a decrease
in blood pressure and pulse. Some veterinarians
recommend that vomiting be induced following
ingestion of mistletoe leaves, stems, or
berries.
Christmas cactus can cause upset
stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Eating Amaryllis bulbs can cause
vomiting, collapse, and respiratory distress and
can be fatal, especially in puppies and very old
dogs.
Lovely lilies are
commonly used in holiday floral arrangements,
but many varieties, including tiger, Asian,
Japanese Show, Stargazer and the Casa Blanca,
can cause kidney failure in cats.
 Christmas
trees are considered to be mildly toxic. The fir
tree oils can irritating to the mouth and
stomach, causing excessive drooling or vomiting.
The tree needles are not easily digested;
possibly causing GI irritation, vomiting,
gastrointestinal obstruction or puncture. As
noted earlier, the amount of trouble depends on
how much is consumed. Many times, pets don't
consume mass quantities of tree material.
Don't add aspirin or chemical
preservatives to your tree's water. Use a heavy
tree skirt to cover the tree stand. Be extra
mindful of always having water in your dog's
bowl to discourage drinking water from the
Christmas tree.
Don't let your
dogs/cats drink that water! Christmas tree water
may contain fertilizers which, if ingested, can
cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can
also act as a breeding ground for bacteria--and
your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea
should he/she imbibe.
Don't use food as ornaments or
ornaments made with food ingredients on your
tree. Dogs have died from salt poisoning after
eating ornaments made from homemade craft dough
containing high levels of salt. Don't use
popcorn garland to decorate your Christmas tree.
In an attempt to eat the popcorn garland, dogs
have been known to un-decorate a tree.
Don't use strands of tinsel. They
can cause major intestinal damage if swallowed.
Unless it's specifically labeled
non-toxic and safe for use around pets, don't
use spray-on snows or flocking on a Christmas
tree. They are respiratory irritants when
inhaled and they can cause stomach upset if
ingested.
Don't leave electric wires
dangling where a curious pup can become tangled
in them. Fasten cords from light strings
together, well inside the tree, out of sight and
out of reach. Cover cords leading to outlets
with a tree skirt.
Don't use angel hair. It's made
of spun fiber-glass, which is a skin and eye
irritant. It can cause tiny cuts and eye damage.
Wow – who knew? So, make sure
your parents are protecting you this holiday
season while they’re making the house look
pretty.
Gotta run but I’ve got more news
to share with you a bit later. Did you know
there are hazards with guests coming to visit
over the holidays?
Emma aka Ms January
Reference -
http://www.napcc.aspca.org/
(ASPCA) |
