Image courtesy Pasadena Humane website
Join Pasadena Humane from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, for a free one-hour virtual webinar that will inform participants about the dangers of the holidays for pets.
From foods they can’t eat to decorations to be careful about, this webinar will teach pet owners everything they need to know to keep pets safe during the holiday season.
In the webinar, Pasadena Humane’s very own vet Dr. Christina Tam will help explain what people should avoid when it comes to some of the most common holiday pet emergencies. She will discuss topics such as household toxicities, tinsel indigestion, and many more holiday pet safety tips.
VetStreet, a veterinary software provider, lists the common pet emergencies during the holiday season. One of these is severely upset stomach or intestines, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes this happens because a pet helps himself to holiday goodies. At other times it’s because a pet is given something that’s outside her or his normal diet.
Pets may also incur lacerations or bite wounds, from fighting or playing with other pets; soft tissue trauma such as a dog being hit by a car because the front door was left open; foreign body ingestion, especially of Christmas decor or gift wrapping; and chocolate poisoning.
Pasadena Humane has published a holiday safety guide that includes items that could be potentially dangerous for pets when it comes to food and decoration in and outside the home.
Onions and garlic, for example, are toxic to pets, so make sure to keep ingredients out of reach when cooking holiday dinner. Alcohol is also hazardous to cats and dogs, so don’t leave half-full glasses.
If you want to indulge your pet over the holidays, only purchase treats and chews made specifically for them.
As for Christmas decorations, pine needles from Christmas trees are mildly toxic to pets and can potentially puncture intestines. It would be better to put the tree in a room that you can close off, or stick to an artificial tree.
Gift wrapping paper, string, and ribbon are tempting for pets to play with but can be dangerous if swallowed. Use caution when keeping wrapped presents under the tree. Or, better yet, keep them out of reach until it’s time to open them.
To join the free webinar Wednesday, visit www.pasadenahumane.org/phs-
