HSCO offers holiday safety considerations for pets

The holidays will be in full swing in a few days, and the Humane Society of Central Oregon is reminding people to keep pets safe during family gatherings.

If you lose or find a pet, report it immediately to your local shelter and reclaim your pet quickly. The Bend animal shelter has limited space due to caring for the 36 dogs from a recent neglect case. Consider the following tips to keep pets safe and to prevent any accidents.

Family Gathering Tips:

New People and a Busy Household: Make family gatherings a positive and safe experience for your pet. Introduce new people to pets with care and don’t let the dog or cat dash out the door as people enter your home. Current and legible ID tags ensure a quick and safe return home .
Foods: Too much fatty, rich, or even just new types of food can give your pet diarrhea, vomiting, pancreatitis or gastroenteritis,all of which can be very painful and serious.
Bones: Bones can tear-up or obstruct your pet’s insides. Place your table scraps in a secure, covered garbagecontainer or outside in the garbage can.
Strings and ties: Often used to tie up the turkey during roasting can tie up your pets insides too.
Alcoholic Drinks: An ounce of alcohol can poison a small dog.
Chocolate: Keep chocolate away from dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that can cause vomiting,diarrhea, seizures, and even death in dogs.
Desserts: In large quantity they can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.
Candles illuminate the holidays with their dancing light and enticing smells that may attract a curious pet. Never leave a pet alone with a lit candle to prevent a fire in your home.
Wrapping from presents can pose a threat when ribbon gets ingested and tangled in your pet’s stomach or intestines.
Food gifts left unattended may be eaten by pets and cause gastrointestinal upset.
Plants like Poinsettias, Mistletoe, Holly and Lilies can be harmful to pets, so prevent pets from ingesting.

Call your veterinarian or the animal emergency clinic if your pet exhibits any unusual symptoms. For more information on keeping pets safe during the holidays call the Humane Society of Central Oregon at 541 382-3537 or visit http://www.hsco.org/