Fall, winter and the holiday seasons can pose special risks to your pets.
Here are some tips for keeping everyone safe and healthy

As the cooler weather begins, we would like to pass along some simple guidelines to help protect your animal companions:

- The best way to keep your cat warm? Keep him inside!  Outdoors, felines can  become lost or injured. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious disease, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

- We don't see much snow here in the lower elevations of San Diego. If your holiday plans include a trip up to our local mountains, or taking your pet along for a wintry vacation into the snow, be sure to thoroughly wipe off your dog’s feet, legs and tummy when he comes in out of the elements. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.  Also, don't leave without having proper identification tags on your pet.  Attaching an I.D. tag with the local area phone number where you can be reached is a good idea.

Always provide fresh, clean water for your pet.

Indoor pets should be provided with a warm, dry area free from drafts. Provide bedding that is up and off cold floors, and wash bedding weekly if possible.
Outdoor pets should have dry shelter out of the wind. Bring cats and dogs into the house if the weather conditions are cold and rainy. 

Staying warm requires extra calories, pets may need more food or a change in diet. Talk to your veterinarian about your pets needs.

Shedding- Most dogs and cats shed their summer coats in the fall before putting on their winter coat. Special attention should be paid to hair coats. Daily or weekly brushing (depending on your pets coat) should help to keep your pet comfortable and free of matts, mud, and loose hair.

Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to underneath the belly.

Never leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.

Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

Preventing the great escape
With holiday guests coming and going, the front door will be opening and closing more than usual. An open door may be too tempting for some pets to resist. Be sure your pets have collars with identification tags - and wear them at all times - in case of an escape.  If your pet DOES slip out, resist the urge to chase - which will turn it into a game. Instead, encourage him to come back to you by enticing him with a favorite treat.

With a little thought and care, you and your pets can enjoy a safe holiday season.

Hazard Warnings!
*Cats and kittens like to nap on warm places, this can include car engines! Knock on the hood of your car or truck or honk the horn, then wait a few minutes before starting the engine. If in doubt, open the hood and look.

*Antifreeze smells good and tastes very sweet, Very small amounts can kill your pet.  A cat walking through a small amount, then licking its paws can ingest enough to cause major damage.  Prevention is the key to keeping your pets safe from this heartbreaking tragedy.  Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store where pets and children can't get to them.  Do not dispose of antifreeze by pouring into the gutter and never let your pet drink from the gutters.

*Fall is the most common time of year for male cats to "block" or form small "stones" that block the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra. Any cat that seems to be straining, visiting the cat box frequently, or urinating outside his box  should be checked by a veterinarian at once. One of the most common complaints is the owner thinking the cat was constipated. Why this time of year? May have to do with decreased water intake, a more sedentary lifestyle which leads to our pets being overweight....another factor in blocked cats.

*Holiday food-  Alcoholic beverages, candy, chocolate, turkey and fixing, pork, fish, bones, just to name a few hazards...keep your pet on its regular diet. We see a lot of dogs with vomiting and diarrhea right after holiday dinners, and some are very seriously ill.

*Poisonous plants- Many plants, including Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe, philodendron, dieffenbachia and poinsettia  (though typically thought of as poisonous to pets, is fairly low in toxicity, but can cause digestive upset and irritation to a pet's mouth and stomach) are toxic to your pet. Keep them out of your pets reach.  Holly berries are extremely toxic when ingested. Just a few berries will cause vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe also causes digestive system upset as well as irregular heartbeats and possibly cardiac shock. Plants like the hibiscus and those in the lily family, which are not toxic to people, may also be harmful to pets, causing digestive system problems and even renal failure.
If you must have these plants in your holiday décor, choose artificial ones to protect your pets. And don't forget to check gift floral arrangements for sprays of dangerous plants.

*Children's toys- Toys can present a poisoning or choking hazard. Be sure small toy pieces, plastic model cement, crayons and paints are put away or out of reach when not in use. Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape also represent potential dangers. Remove them as soon as possible.  Liquid potpourris, fireplace colors and salts, Styrofoam, tinsel, angel hair and other tree decorations can also be toxic if ingested, cause skin or eye irritation, or cause intestinal obstructions.

*Fire-Never leave lighted candles unattended and be sure they are securely anchored so they won't be dislodged by the swat of a paw or tail. Better yet, only use candles with domes or cylinders that enclose the flame.

*Kitchen dangers-Pets' highly sensitive noses pick up scents before humans can. Therefore, don't be surprised if your pets are underfoot in the kitchen while
holiday goodies are being prepared. Watch those hot containers filled with turkey and ham drippings. The pets can easily tip them over causing severe scalding and burns to themselves.

*Holiday decorations- Electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, ribbons, plastic or foil wrapping, rubber bands, etc. can be dangerous to your pet. Do not tie ribbons around pets necks or limbs.  The lovely bubbling holiday lights are moderate to lethal toxicity, depending on the amount of fluid (methylene chloride) inhaled or ingested.  For your pets safety, don't use angelhair (spun glass) it can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Artificial snow and snow flock has low toxicity - dry particles are inert; however, toxicity from inhalation can occur if spayed directly in the mouth.

*Cover up or hide electric cords.  Pets are sometimes tempted to chew on light cords, which can cause mouth burns or fatal shock. Even brief electric shocks can trigger an irregular heartbeat, which can cause fluid to gather in the lungs, leading to serious complications or death.

To see up to date, interesting and informative articles about pet care (including this article), go to http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy

Take the “Oh No!” Out of Your and Your Pets’ Holiday “Ho-Ho-Ho!”

Yes, it’s that holiday time of year again. While you’re busy decorating, baking, wrapping gifts, and
preparing your household for guests, remember to watch out for holiday temptations for your pets.
Don’t let a pet disaster turn both your and your pets’ Holiday “Ho-Ho-Ho!” into a Holiday “Oh
No!”

Pet Treats
Santa brought Fido his favorite pet treats as a stocking stuffer. Lucky Fido! But, be careful when
giving Fido his stocking stuffer. Because he likes his favorite treats so much, Fido may eat them
whole, or eat too many at one time. Pet treats, whether biscuits, rawhides, or jerky sticks, are most
digestible when chewed into small pieces. If Fido eats the treats whole, or eats too many at
once, he may not be able to digest them. Unchewed pet treats can get stuck in the trachea (windpipe) or gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and intestines), particularly in small dogs.
If a piece of pet treat gets stuck in Fido’s trachea (windpipe), you may see Fido become frantic
and start drooling and choking. Severe tracheal blockages are fairly common, especially around
the holidays, and all are life-threatening. So, if you see frantic Fido drooling and choking, he needs an emergency visit to his veterinarian!

If a piece of pet treat gets stuck in Fido’s esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the
stomach that food travels through), he may gulp, start drooling, or bring up undigested food after
eating. Fido brings up the undigested food because the piece of pet treat blocks his dog food from
getting to his stomach and there’s nowhere else for the food to go but back up. This can go on for
days if the blockage is not removed.
If something is stuck in Fido’s stomach or intestines, such as a bone or chew toy, the symptoms are
different and you may not notice for several days. He may vomit and have diarrhea, be less active,
not want to eat, and have stomach pain. If the blockage stays in Fido’s stomach or intestines for too
long, he may become very ill. The worst-case scenario is when a hole develops at the blockage site,
causing a life-threatening infection.
In the cases above, Fido needs a visit to his veterinarian as soon as possible. If he’s choking, it’s an
emergency requiring immediate action. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian for medical
advice. Your veterinarian may need to take X-rays, use ultrasound, or perform other tests to see
what and where the problem is. Your veterinarian may use an endoscope (a long tube with a built-in
camera and grabbing tools) to remove reachable objects from the esophagus and stomach. Fido will
likely need surgery to remove blockages in the intestines.

Tinsel and Ribbons
When decorating your tree and wrapping or unwrapping gifts, keep a close eye on where you leave
your leftover tinsel, string, and ribbons. Tigger, your big orange and white kitty, may find these
decorations irresistible because they look like easy-to-catch, sparkly, and wiggly prey. If Tigger eats these types of decorations, he may end up with serious stomach and intestinal damage.
Swallowed ribbons and string can get tangled in the stomach or intestines. If they are not removed, the ribbons and string can saw through the lining of the stomach or intestines, causing a life-threatening infection. Symptoms may take a few hours or several days to appear, and include vomiting, diarrhea,
lack of appetite, and decreased activity. If you see Tigger eat any string, tinsel, or ribbon, call your veterinarian and ask for medical advice. Play it safe—keep the tinsel off the tree and collect all ribbons and strings after opening your gifts!

Plants
Many people have festive plants around the house for the holidays, including poinsettias, holly, and
mistletoe. Remember to keep your furry family members in mind when you display or dispose of your holiday plants.

Poinsettias
Colorful, large red and white poinsettias fill your living room and family room, bringing holiday cheer to everyone who sees them. However, Tigger sees the poinsettias and considers them a great hiding place and a convenient snack when you’re late with his dinner.
Unfortunately, what Tigger doesn’t realize is that poinsettias have a milky
white, latex sap that can be very irritating to his mouth and stomach. According
to the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC), http://
www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/, symptoms of poinsettia toxicity
include drooling, and sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea. Fortunately for Tigger, the symptoms associated
with poinsettia toxicity are not too bad. However, if Tigger snacks on your poinsettia leaves, you can help him by picking up his food and water dishes for a couple of hours to let his stomach settle.

Mistletoe
Waiting for a kiss from that special someone under the mistletoe? Tigger or Fido may also be waiting
under the mistletoe in hopes of getting a tasty snack. Your horse Trigger may also get a mistletoe
snack if you hang it near her stall door or throw it into her field after the holiday celebrations are
over. If your pets eat mistletoe, what should you expect? The NAPCC states that the major toxic
chemicals in mistletoe are lectins and phoratoxins. These chemicals affect the heart, causing low
blood pressure and slowed heart rate. Fortunately for Fido, Tigger, and Trigger, severe mistletoe
toxicity is uncommon and usually only occurs if your pet eats a large amount. The symptoms of
mistletoe toxicity include gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats; colic in
horses), difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, and odd behavior. If you suspect
Fido, Tigger, or Trigger ate mistletoe, call your veterinarian for medical advice.

Holly
The beautiful holly decorating your house isn’t very harmful, but you should still keep Fido, Tigger,
and Trigger from eating the berries and leaves. The main toxic culprit in holly leaves and berries is a group of chemicals called saponins. In dogs and cats, these chemicals cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and decreased activity. In horses, diarrhea can occur.
In the three cases above, it’s a good idea to call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can give you
advice on what you can do at home to make your pet more comfortable and help you decide if you should
bring your pet in for a visit.

Table Scraps
It’s hard to ignore Fido’s sad puppy-dog eyes when you’re eating your holiday meals. However, resist the
temptation to give him a piece of turkey or chicken, or some other type of fatty holiday comfort food. In addition
to the typical gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea), rich and fatty foods can cause a
potentially life-threatening and painful disease called pancreatitis. The most common symptoms of
pancreatitis in dogs include vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever, and weakness.
In cats, the symptoms are less clear and harder to notice, such as decreased appetite and
weight loss. Keep Fido and Tigger happy and healthy by resisting the temptation to give them table
scraps!
You’ve done a great job, and neither Fido nor Tigger received any table scraps during your holiday
meals. However, disappointed Fido took the opportunity to help himself to the turkey, chicken, and
steak bones in the trash can. Eating bones is dangerous to Fido and the dangers are similar to what
can happen with unchewed pet treats. Bones can get stuck in his esophagus, leading to gagging, or
they can get stuck in his trachea, leading to life-threatening choking. Also, while Fido chews them
up, bones form sharp pieces which can injure his mouth, esophagus, and stomach. As the sharp
bone pieces travel from the stomach through the intestines, they can cause punctures and injuries
along the way, potentially leading to a life-threatening infection. Bone pieces can also get stuck in
the stomach and intestines, creating blockages that must be removed.
Hold your ground at dinnertime, and resist the urge to feed Fido and Tigger table scraps. And don’t
forget, once dinner is done, dispose of the leftovers and bones somewhere where Fido and Tigger
can’t get to them.

Human Treats
Fido, being the big dog he is, decides that eating the bones and leftovers from the trash can isn’t
enough for his holiday dinner. So, he table surfs in the living room and eats some of the chocolate covered
caramels in the candy dish along with several sugar-free red and white mints. Can the
chocolate and mints hurt him? It depends. Chocolate toxicity depends on the type and amount of
chocolate Fido ate, his body weight, and if he’s extra-sensitive to the toxic compound in chocolate
called theobromine. Theobromine toxicity can cause a variety of symptoms, from mild to severe,
including vomiting, diarrhea, fast heart rate, restlessness, hyperactivity, increased urination, muscle
spasms, and seizures.
The seemingly harmless sugar-free red and white mints you bought for your diabetic Uncle Ralph
can cause life-threatening problems for Fido if the mints contain xylitol. Xylitol, an increasingly
popular artificial sweetener, is found in food items such as candy, gum, and baked goods, and personal
hygiene products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Symptoms occur quickly after dogs eat
xylitol-containing items. Vomiting is generally the first symptom, followed by those associated
with the sudden lowering of Fido’s blood sugar (hypoglycemia), such as decreased activity, weakness,
staggering, incoordination, collapse, and seizures. Some dogs develop more severe complications,
including liver failure, bleeding disorders, and death. If you suspect Fido has eaten chocolate
or xylitol-containing items, consider it an emergency and call your veterinarian immediately.
Alcohol is another potentially harmful human treat. Fido and Tigger decide they need some holiday
cheer and drink the entire glass of Aunt Susie’s eggnog that she left unattended on the coffee table.
Although it may seem funny at the time, pets that consume alcohol can develop serious problems
depending on how much they drink. The most common symptoms in pets associated with the
consumption of alcoholic beverages are vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, decreased activity,
difficulty breathing, and shaking. In severe cases, coma and death from respiratory failure
(lungs stop functioning) occur. If you see Fido and Tigger drinking an alcoholic beverage, call your
veterinarian.

The “Wrap Up”
Don’t let the information in this article scare you into paranoia about your pets and your holiday
celebrations. You can relax and enjoy your holidays simply by preventing temptations for your pets.
Keep holiday decorations, people food, alcoholic beverages, and holiday plants out of reach of your
furry friends. If your pets get into things they shouldn’t, don’t panic! Call your veterinarian immediately
for advice instead of waiting for serious symptoms to develop. Remember, only you can
keep the “Oh No!” out of your and your pets’ Holiday “Ho-Ho-Ho!”

How Can You Get More Information?

• Talk to your pet’s veterinarian
• Contact FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine at 240-276-9300 or AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
• Visit the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) website at:
http://www.aspca.org/ pet-care/poison-control/
• Visit the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website at:
http://www.avma.org/

References
1Volmer P. Toxicology Brief: “How Dangerous are Winter and Spring Holiday Plants to Pets?”
Veterinary Medicine, December 2002, pp. 879-884.
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
4Cooperative Extension System and University of MD, www.extension.org/faq
5Birchard SJ and Sherding RG, Johnson SE. “Chapter 10: Diseases and Surgery of the Exocrine
Pancreas” in Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, SJ Birchard and RG Sherding, eds. 1994.
WBSaunders Company: Philadelphia, pp. 768-773.
6http://www.vet.purdue.edu/vth/SACP/chocolate_toxicity.htm
7Dunayer, EK. New Findings on the Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs. Veterinary Medicine. December
2006, pp. 791-797.