Universal Press Syndicate
Every year at this time we offer a list of the most common holiday hazards for pets: feeding problems, foreign-body ingestion and accidental poisoning.
The bad news is that many pets will end up at the veterinarian's office this holiday season. The good news is that yours won't be among them if you keep an eye out for these hazards. Be careful, and watch for:
-- Feeding problems. Foods too rich, too fatty or too spicy -- or anything your pet's not accustomed to -- can trigger a bout of intestinal upset. For some animals, the treat can trigger a serious inflammation of the pancreas or intestine, and that means a life-threatening illness.
What to avoid? Anything you wouldn't eat your pet should avoid, too. While a little bit of meat -- beef or poultry -- won't hurt and would be appreciated, steer clear of the fatty parts and the poultry skin, which also harbors fat.
-- Foreign-body ingestion. Cooked poultry bones may seem like the perfect gift for the pet who has everything, but do him a favor and save them for the soup. (Low-sodium poultry broth is a wonderful treat poured over your pet's regular food.) Even the largest cooked turkey bones are prone to splintering, sending shards through the animal's intestines. Should one pierce through the lining, the result can be deadly peritonitis.
While cooked poultry bones are out, some raw or cooked beef bones can be safely substituted. Knuckle bones (for large dogs) and oxtails (for small ones) stand up to vigorous gnawing, providing your pet with plenty of yummy, messy fun. Supervise your dog's chewing, and throw bones out after a few hours of attention or if they get broken into pieces that can be swallowed.
-- Dangerous decorations. The Christmas tree is full of hazards for dogs and cats. Tinsel can be an appealing target for play, but if ingested, it can twist up the intestines. This is a particular danger to cats and kittens, who seem to find tinsel -- along with yarn, ribbon and string -- especially appealing to eat.
Ornaments, too, are deadly in the mouths -- and stomachs -- of pets, and even the water at the base of the tree contains secretions that can at the very least cause a stomachache. Light strings are no good for chewing, and the whole tree can come down on the cat climbing in its branches. Some dogs may even be inclined to break the rules of house-training on a freshly cut tree -- why else, they reason, would anyone bring a tree into the house?
The best way to keep your pets out of tree trouble is by making the tree off-limits unless you're there to supervise. Putting the tree in a room with a door you can close is probably the easiest solution.
-- Poisonings. Holiday plants such as mistletoe may look intriguing to your pet, but they're also toxic, as are the bulbs of the amaryllis plant. (Long the poster child for holiday poisoning, the falsely maligned poinsettia can be safely welcomed into the pet lover's home.)
And before you share your holiday candy with your pet, be aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs and may be deadly to the little dog who gets a good-sized piece. Again, the best cure is prevention: Keep all dangerous plants out of the reach of your pets, and make the candy dish available to people only.
Stay safe this holiday season!
SIDEBAR
Poison control center a number to know
If you're not sure about what can be toxic to your pets, you might want to review the information on the Web site of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org/apcc).
The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center is where veterinarians call when they need quick answers for patients who've been poisoned, and the information provided to the general public on toxic plants and products is the best you'll find anywhere.
It's also a good place to check out the rumors that pop up on the Internet regarding various products. The APCC is prompt about investigating such dire warnings and about posting its expert opinion on the Web site on whether or not the concerns are justified.
Highly recommended: Order a free magnet from the ASPCA with the center's toll-free phone number. You can fill out the form online and expect your free magnet in six to eight weeks.
Q&A
Keeping loose dogs from attacking
Q: How do I defend myself and my dog when out walking and other dogs come at us? Generally, our morning walks are uneventful, but I need advice on how to deal with the occasional surprises. -- K.J., via e-mail
A: When it comes to professional pet behavioral advice, nothing works all the time and everything works some of the time. With that disclaimer in place, we can tell you that when facing a potential canine challenger, your best bet is to communicate with body language to thwart an attack.
Deter canine confrontations by sending clear signals in dog language that no threat exists. When you see a loose dog making a beeline in your direction, put your dog on a down-stay. Simply lowering your dog's position and posture communicates to the loose dog, "I'm not here to fight or challenge you." You dog is essentially saying "Uncle" before a confrontation starts.
Although your heart may be pounding, demonstrate emotional leadership. Take a deep breath and exhale so your own dog can hear you, letting all your tension out to signal your dog to also relax. We lower our dog's arousal rate by lowering our own.
Keep your side toward the loose dog so you can glance at him but not stare. Keeping a relaxed and loose muscle tone, stand tall in front of your dog to keep your dog's attention on you. If you see your dog begin to move, calmly yet firmly insist that your dog stay. Stand on the leash to prevent your dog from suddenly leaping up in response to the approaching dog.
When dogs are on leash, they are more likely to fight defensively because they cannot get away. Your dog must learn to rely on your leadership and be well-trained in advance before you can expect him to follow your instructions when on leash -- especially when challenged.
Keep in mind, there are dogs -- as there are people -- who suffer from mental illness. If the loose dog was not properly socialized to other dogs as a pup, he may not read canine body language or respond well.
When dogs are not trained and live boring lives, they also create their own jobs, such as barking at mail carriers. Regardless of whether the other dog is attacking to protect his space or exercising his macho ego or simply having some fun, your best bet is to simply ignore him.
Do not turn your back and retreat or run. If the dog attacks you, stand like a tree and fall like a rock with your arms covering your neck, and let your dog fend for himself. Rarely will your situation come to this extreme, but now you know what to do. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
PET BUZZ
Harness your dog and take a hike
-- "Mushing" is a general term for a transportation method powered by dogs. The term is thought to come from the French word "marcher," or "to move" (the command to the team to commence pulling). "Mush!" is rarely used today. Instead, "Hike!" is more common in English.
-- According to the National Retail Federation, more than 7.4 million households dressed up their pets for Halloween. The most popular dog costumes were devils, pumpkins and witches, but other costumes -- such as a peacock and a mini-Princess Leia from "Star Wars" -- also sold. There are even costumes for turtles, such as a fin that makes the turtle look like a shark as he goes through the water.
-- "When the old dog barks it is time to watch." -- Latin proverb
-- The Wall Street Journal reports that Asia is getting passionate about pets. As proof, the newspaper traces the rise of pet-friendly cafes in places like South Korea where patrons can socialize with resident pets. For people who want to go a step further, there are businesses that rent pets by the hour, day or week. Most popular -- and pricey: pugs and St. Bernards. -- Dr. Marty Becker
[Put ABOUT PET CONNECTION here, under BUZZ]
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.
On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.
THE SCOOP
Christmas not best time for puppy
Despite the warnings of those in the know, every year parents give in to the begging of their children and pop for a puppy.
The attraction is understandable: Who doesn't love a puppy, and who wouldn't want to delight a child? But there are reasons why shelters, rescue groups and responsible breeders are uniform in their advice to think twice about a Christmas puppy.
Christmas puppies are often a parent's headache by February, when the animals are still not house-trained, the kids are tired of the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, and it's still too cold and dark outside for dog-training after work and school.
Puppies are not toys. They are living, breathing beings who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays, that stressful season of socializing and shopping? With a houseful of guests and a holiday dinner to prepare, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests? Who has time to get house-training started right?
Dogs who grow up unhouse-trained, unmannered and unsocialized too often never get a chance to grow up much at all. From summer to fall, pet experts hear from people who are tearing out their hair over their now-adolescent Christmas puppies. Some people work with the dogs, but many just dump them.
Dogs can be great for children, and children can be great with dogs. But Christmas is not the best time to launch such a promising relationship. Somebody has to be the grown-up here, and if you're the parent, it should be you. Wait until late spring or early summer to find the perfect pup, and get your pet off to a great start. -- Gina Spadafori
PETS BY THE NUMBERS
Spending on pets increases
According to a 2004 survey, more than half of those with companion animals are spending more on their pets than they were three years ago. The responses to the question on spending increase:
Spending more 53 percent
Spending less 5 percent
Same amount 22 percent
Didn't have a pet 14 percent
Don't know 6 percent
Source: American Animal Hospital Association
ON GOOD BEHAVIOR
Young pets need short lessons
Don't push your luck when it comes to keeping the attention of your puppy or kitten. Engaging your pet in frequent, shorter training sessions is more effective than long, periodic lessons for teaching youngsters.
Look for a few good responses, and try to end each lesson before your pet shows any sign of losing interest. Ideally, each lesson should end on one of your pet's best responses and your best praises. You want your pet to remember that best response and be eager for the next lesson -- not dread it.
Be an exciting teacher, not a boring one. When your pet associates your time plus food with learning specific behaviors, he'll naturally repeat those behaviors to earn your attention and food rewards. It's that simple!
(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)
Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.
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