While the holidays are full of joy for most, they can present uncommon and unexpected hazards for our furry family members. Keys Weekly caught up with Dr. Mike Dunn of Keys Animal Hospital to talk about threats to pets that owners should keep in mind.
- Don’t kill them with kindness. “Make a rule: No ‘people food’ at all,” said Dr. Dunn, explaining that fatty and salty holiday foods are apt to cause pancreatitis in dogs. Chocolates are a known culprit, but artificial sweeteners in cookies can also trick dogs’ bodies into making too much insulin, dropping their blood sugar to dangerous levels and leading to collapse or seizures. For older animals experiencing their last holiday seasons, Dunn said this point is particularly critical to avoid tragically common, Christmas Day euthanasias.
- Read the room. During the holidays, pets are around large crowds who aren’t familiar with their diets. Small “people food” treats given by well-meaning friends and relatives can quickly lead to an overload. “Put your pet in their own room during parties,” suggested Dunn.
- Trash the tinsel. “With cats, it’s the small Christmas toys, glass ornaments, and especially long, stringy tinsel,” said Dunn. “It can ball up and cut the gut as it moves through the cat’s intestinal tract. I have to take at least one foreign body out of a cat every Christmas season. There are lots of things hanging around the house and off the tree, so cats’ hunting drive kicks in.”
- Hide the weed and booze. Intentional or not, Dunn said he sees quite a few marijuana and alcohol ingestions every holiday season. “Dogs love to eat weed for some reason,” he said. “Guests leave it out — or maybe that’s just a traditional Christmas gift in the Keys.”
- Protect them from the plants. Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are all plants to watch out for as potential ingestion hazards that can be quite poisonous to pets.
THE GIFT OF FAMILY
Looking to add a new member to the family? The holidays may be the perfect time while kids are home from school. “We encourage a home for the holidays,” said Tiffany Dunsmore, development director for the Florida Keys SPCA. “The good thing is that people are home more and have time to spend helping their new pet get acclimated.” Dunsmore added that while many want to give animals as gifts, she highly encourages the whole family to meet a new animal before making a commitment. Smaller animals like hamsters and guinea pigs can also be great “starter pets,” and there are plenty available for adoption at the SPCA’s shelters in Key West and Marathon.
Animal Adoption Sites:
- Florida Keys SPCA – Marathon and Key West campuses, hours and addresses at www.fkspca.org
- Marrvelous Pet Rescues – 99900 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo. 305-453-1315.
- Upper Keys Humane Society – 101617 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo. 305-451-3848.
- Humane Animal Care Coalition – 105951 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo. 305-451-0088.
