{"id":1601,"date":"2022-12-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nice-cori.104-207-151-122.plesk.page\/?p=1601"},"modified":"2022-12-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T00:00:00","slug":"keeping-your-pets-safe-from-holiday-dangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundwoodstockmagazine.com\/keeping-your-pets-safe-from-holiday-dangers","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Your Pets Safe From Holiday Dangers – Around Woodstock"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"The holidays are here, and it\u2019s time to deck the halls, walls, staircases and mantles. The smell of good food, colorful twinkling lights and live greenery set the scene. The most wonderful time of the year should be filled with happy celebrations, but they might not be for our pets.<\/p>\n

According to a University of Georgia Extension Service veterinarian, Dr. Jim Strickland, chewing on cords can cause electrical shock, and leftovers, especially bones, can cause gastrointestinal distress. Holiday candies are a choking hazard, and ingestion of chocolate, which contains theobromine and caffeine, can affect your dog\u2019s nervous system.<\/p>\n

If your pet eats chocolate, monitor for signs of toxicity appearing within 6 to 12 hours. Chocolate poisoning begins with milder symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, increased urination and, in severe cases, muscle tremors, elevated or abnormal heart rhythms, seizures or even collapse and heart failure. Always seek medical help from your veterinarian. For more information, visit https:\/\/bit.ly\/3FivLji<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are other dangers that aren\u2019t quite so obvious \u2014 live plants, branches and cuttings used as decorations in our homes. Even live trees can be a potential threat for our pets. Toxicity depends on the amount of a plant that has been eaten. According to the UGA Cooperative Extension and the Department of Urban Plant Pathology and Center for Urban Agriculture, plant toxicities can be categorized in four classes:<\/p>\n

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  1. Major toxicity. May result in serious illness or death if ingested.<\/li>\n
  2. Minor toxicity. May result in vomiting or diarrhea if ingested.<\/li>\n
  3. Oxalates. Contains juice or sap with oxalate crystals that can irritate the skin, mouth or throat, and cause swelling, difficulty breathing, pain or an upset stomach.<\/li>\n
  4. Dermatitis. Contact with thorns or sap may result in a skin rash.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Adverse effects can vary from severe to mild, with even common plants causing great distress. If you plan to use natural trees and shrubs as indoor decorations, familiarize yourself with the plants mentioned below in order to recognize symptoms if a potentially hazardous situation occurs, and keep these plants out of your pet\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n

    Hazardous Holiday Plants<\/p>\n