HOLIDAY SAFETY: Keep these items away from your pets to avoid a vet visit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As we all get ready to enjoy our holiday festivities with loved ones and family, it’s important to remember our pets are taking part in those too, and certain items that we enjoy could be especially harmful to them.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which to our pets means: sensory overload.

“Everything attracts them. It’s new so they wanna be curious,” said dog owner Denise Boyd.

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Dr. Ralph Sevelius owns the Northside Animal Hospital, and he’s been treating pets for more than 40 years. He says he sees more sick animals this time of year.

“I usually see gastric upsets. GI upsets, diarrhea, vomiting,” Sevelius said.

WHAT TO KEEP AWAY FROM PETS

To keep your pets safe this holiday season, Sevelius has even posted a list of items you need to keep away from them and that includes:

• Chocolate
• Candy
• Nuts
• Raisins
• Grapes
• Glittery tinsel
• Ribbon
• Bones
• Alcohol
• Toys
• Batteries
• Ice melt
• Antifreeze

“The most dangerous things are the ribbons, the tinsel,” Sevelius explained. “Dogs can eat it, cats can eat it and it can tie up their intestinal tract, too.”

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR PET, OR KEEP THEM SEPARATED

So you need to pay attention.

“Most important thing is to keep your eyes on your animal,” he stressed.

“Keep an eye on them like they’re toddlers,” said Beth Higley, who purchased Jolene, a now-14-week-old puppy, for her 10-year-old daughter.

“They’re just like, I call them two-year-olds,” Boyd said.

If you can’t keep tabs on them, keep them somewhere safe.

“Pen [them] up somewhere, or don’t allow them to get around the decorations,” Sevelius recommended.

“We can put her in a kennel if we need to, can’t do that with toddlers!” Higley joked.

SET HOUSEHOLD RULES

You should also make sure your guests are on the same page.

“A lot of people during the holidays want to give them bones or treats,” Boyd pointed out. “So, you can’t do that.”

“We don’t allow any type of treats that aren’t especially for her,” Higley said. “Everyone in the family knows the rules about not sharing our food.”

RESOURCES IF YOUR PET GETS SICK

If your pet ingests something toxic, an at-cost resource that is available 24 hours a day is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435

“What you can do is tell them what your dog ate or whatever happened and they will tell you how poisonous it is,” Sevelius said.

You’ll want them checked out ASAP depending on how severe it is. Always have clinic numbers on hand.

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“Veterinarians are closed during the holidays so you should definitely be prepared, have the number of a veterinary emergency clinic and know how to get there,” Sevelius emphasized.

But if you can avoid any mishaps, the holidays will be merrier for you and your furry loved ones.

“[Jolene’s] just the most loyal and just the perfect little gift,” Higley said.

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