Holidays hard for pets
The holidays are rushing toward us at dash-away sled speed and local experts from animal shelter and rescue facilities all agree: sometimes pets get lost in the shuffle. The best advice they can offer for animal owners everywhere is to simply be aware.
“Everybody makes mistakes with their animals,” said Tracy March of Ferrets and More Rescue of Spokane. “Basic stuff that normally wouldn’t happen does.”
March, who has been in the animal rescue business for 15 years, has heard some tragic stories. “I know someone who had 10 relatives staying at their house,” she remembered, “and their ferret was sleeping in the laundry basket which was piled with laundry. Ferrets like to be close to the human smell, so they often do that.”
Well, the guest wanted to help with the chores – and inadvertently washed the ferret.
“I know very experienced ferret people who have had that happen,” said March. “Really the best thing to do is not have your ferret out when you have company around.”
March explained that guests who aren’t used to having pets around aren’t likely to watch out for the pet’s normal behaviors. “A visitor could step on them and break something,” she said. “A lot of accidents happen this way.”
Traci Selle McDonald, of Reptile Rescue, worried about pets that are left at home for the holidays.
“A lot of people go on vacations and don’t realize that their (reptiles) pets can’t go days without food,” she said. “House sitting is best for reptiles. Check your animals every day if you can’t have a house sitter. Make sure they are OK. They may not need anything, but that five-minute check could save an animal’s life.”
A main requirement for reptiles is warmth, McDonald explained. “If someone is around to make sure that the heating in their habitat doesn’t get too hot that would be a big help. You never know when there may be a surge of electricity and the heating pad (that is kept in the reptile’s environment for warmth) might get too hot. They aren’t perfect.”
Carol Byrnes of SpokAnimal said that there are certain dangers exclusive to the holidays. She cautioned pet owners to be especially aware of the holiday decorations that pets aren’t accustomed to having around.
“Glass balls,” she said, “can be mistaken for tennis balls. If they crunch them and swallow, they’re in trouble. Tinsel can cause intestinal blockage if it’s chewed and swallowed.”
Even the water at the bottom of your Christmas tree can be a worry.
“Some people buy a chemical to put in the water so the tree lasts longer. If your dog or cat drinks it, they’ll get sick. It’s best to make the tree inaccessible to the animals.”
If that answer is impractical, “Maybe there’s a way to put a covering over the water and keep their faces out and the water in.”
Notice anything your pet could chew or swallow and try to keep these items out of your pet’s reach – lights, garland, and electrical cords included.
Byrnes reminds families who enjoy cooking during the holidays that some of their main ingredients could be trouble for their family’s four-legged friends.
Pets should not have chocolate, macadamia nuts or onions in large quantities.
“There’s an anemia problem that is an acquired thing that dogs can get from eating lots of onions,” she explained. “Grand amounts can be a problem. Also, alcoholic drinks like hot-buttered rum aren’t good. Anything that’s a stimulant or a depressant is going to be a problem for a dog just like it would be for a child. There are some things that just aren’t great to share.”
On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, whenever your family traditionally opens gifts, dispose of all the wrapping materials before the pets have a chance to investigate, March advised.
“Ferrets are addicted to rubbery, textured things, so the plastic Styrofoam peanuts are not good to have around,” she said. “If they eat a small amount then it’ll usually just go through, and if they eat the ones made of starch they’ll be okay.
“But if they eat too many of the plastic ones it causes intestinal impact,” she said. “If you don’t catch it – a ferret’s digestive track is short and often they don’t show signs that they’re sick until they are really sick – you can lose them. They also like the packing bubbles which can cause the same kind of difficulty.”
Even the snowy walk you take with your pet after a yummy Christmas dinner has its hazards. Byrnes said, “You should come back and rinse off the dogs feet because of both the rock salt and chemical de-icers.”