Good Dog Pet Sitters Let You Know:

The Holidays can be hazardous to your pet’s health. Here is a list of things to look out for…

Professional Pet Sitters Can Teach You All Kinds Of Tips:

Dangling decorations: These look like toys to your dog or cat. Glass ornaments break easily and are extremely harmful if ingested.  Opt for plastic ornaments at least for the lowest hanging branches of your tree, and eliminate tinsel altogether. Cats find it irresistible.

Festive Foods: Around the holidays there is an abundance of chocolate as well as cookies and cakes with nuts and raisins baked in. All of which are harmful, even fatal to your pets. Professional pet sitters will tell you that giving your dog fatty foods like ham or turkey with gravy can land you in the pet E.R. with stomach upset or even pancreatitis. While very tempting, skip treating your dog with these items. If you must indulge your furry family member, buy some special dog treats for holiday time. Lord knows they come in all kinds of fun shapes and flavors!

Gift Wrapping Ribbon: Anyone who has a cat knows how irresistible curling ribbon is to them. If eaten, ribbon can twist in the intestines causing cuts and blockages. This can only be removed surgically. To avoid a trip to the pet E.R. skip these altogether.

Holiday Plants: Poinsettias, Mistletoe, Holly and even pine needles can cause irritation, vomiting, diarrhea and some even death if ingested. Keep plants up and away from your pets and don’t allow them to chew on your tree.

Candles and Potpourri: These days candles and potpourri come in so many scents. Many smell edible to your pets. Keep them up and away where they cannot be reached. Candles and hot wax can burn your pet, liquid potpourri contains cationic detergents which if ingested, cause burns to the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Best Holiday Tip: Supervise your pets! Use professional pet sitters! Keep pets away from your tree and gifts when not home by blocking off the room where they are kept. Keep foods tightly covered and if you own a counter surfer keep foods up high or put the dog away in another room while you have the food out.

In case of harmful ingestion call Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or your local veterinarian immediately.  For a complete list of poisons email me at info@gooddogcoaching.com

Terie Hansen, Professional Dog Trainer, Pet Sitter & Owner at Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 www.gooddogcoaching.com. For profressional pet sitters, give us a call.