Holiday Safety for pets

Mickey's Pet Supplies would like to share some helpful information for your pets.

During the Holidays there are many dangers lurking around your home that you may not be aware of for your pets.

Here is a list of some of the things to consider this time of year when having family and friends visit during Christmas and New Years.

1. Holiday Tinsel and Ornaments

Tinsel, while not toxic, is very attractive to pets, particularly cats. The shiny, dangling decoration reflects light and can move in the slightest draft — appearing to come alive to watchful critters.

The problem with tinsel is that once it’s consumed, it can cause serious injury to your pet. If not caught in time, this foreign body ingestion could actually be fatal as it twists and bunches inside your pet’s intestines. Immediate veterinary care is required.

In addition, bright and colorful tree ornaments can attract your pet’s curiosity. Place glass, aluminum and paper ornaments higher up on the tree. Pets can chew and swallow these fragile objects and not only can broken pieces form sharp edges that may lacerate your pet’s mouth, throat and intestines, they could also create a choking hazard.

2. Holiday Lighting and Candles and Potpourri

Twinkling, shiny and dangling holiday lights — such as the icicle, netting, garland, curtain, rope and candle varietal — may be another source of danger to your curious pets.

Got a pet that likes to chew? Electrical shock may occur when a pet chomps down on an electrical cord, causing tongue lacerations and possible death. Check your holiday lights for signs of fraying or chewing and use a grounded three-prong extension cord as a safety precaution.

If you have candles on display, place them in a hard-to-reach spot so that your pets can not access them. Not only can pets seriously burn themselves, but knocking over candles creates a fire hazard and may leave a trail of hot wax that will easily burn the paw pads and more.

Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting—but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs aren’t as sensitive, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry—so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.

3.  Gift Wrap Ribbon

Do not be tempted to fashion a collar of ribbon for your cat or dog.  Invest in a real fabric or leather collar instead.  The ribbon, may get wrapped up and strangle your pet or worse, your pet can try and get the ribbon off and ingest it.  This will end up getting tangled up in the intestines, causing blockage and serious problems, not to mention the vet bills to surgically remove it. 

4. Holiday Foods and table scraps

Holiday dinners loaded with gravies and fats can be just too much for your pet's digestive system.  Never give cooked bones- choking hazard.

Xylitol-  Do not leave any gums, candies or foods that are sugar free within reach of your pet. The artificial sweetener, Xylitol is TOXIC! Only 0.5 g/kg or more of Xylitol can cause liver failure.  

One piece of sugar free gum contains 0.3g and some gums contain up to 1 g of Xylitol in them.  Keep any sugar free foods and gums completely out of harms reach.

 Do not give nuts to your animals. Certain nuts are toxic such as Macadamia nuts and walnuts, causing seizures and neurological problems.

Grapes, raisins and currants are toxic. 

Do not give chocolate to any pet. It is toxic.Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.

5.  Poisonous Plants

Poinsettias, Mistletoe and Holly are all toxic to pets. Also, Lillies- especially with cats if eaten are toxic too. The ingestion of one to two leaves or flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.” Other yuletide pants such as holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets and can cause gastrointestinal upset and even heart arrhythmias if ingested.

Click here for a complete list of all toxic plants for pets. 

6.  Snow Globes

Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze(ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size), can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

If your pet has any signs of listlessness, lethargy, vomitting, diarrhea or any neurological signs please contact your veterinarian or 24 emergency veterinary service immediately. 

If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

Mickey's Pet Supplies is an online pet supplies store for cats and dogs. We believe your pets are a part of your family so we only carry the best all natural treats, toys and chews. We specialize in made in USA pet products. 

Visit us or call 877-863-5431 to place an order.  

Take $3 off your first order of $25 or more by entering coupon code BLOG18

7 Pet Safety Tips for Thanksgiving:

1. No turkey bones. Soft bones, like those in poultry, can splinter and cause obstructions in your pet's digestive system. If you want to treat your to turkey, give him some Kona's Chips Turkey Jerky instead.

2. Avoid giving raw scraps. Remember that raw or undercooked turkey can harbor salmonella, which can cause the same disastrous gastrointestinal affects in our pets as it does in us.

3. Keep chocolate far out of reach. It can be fatal to dogs. Chocolate cake, bowls of candy, or pieces dropped by guests or children, may pose a real risk to your pets. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. But any chocolate, in large enough amounts, can kill a dog. An ounce of chocolate can be toxic to a 30-pound dog, and many dogs can easily consume more than that.

4. Onions and herbs can be dangerous. Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

5. Pitch it before the pooch gets it. After you've cleaned the kitchen, take the garbage out and dispose of it in a secure place where no pets can get into it.

6. Burn off some steam. Before guests arrive, it is a good idea to take your dog for a long walk or a play session to burn off some steam. Floppy dog toys, like those from West Paw Design, are especially fun and colorful, and will get the kids involved as well. 

7. Keep him distracted. Instead of having your dog whine and whimper through the Thanksgiving feast, give him something to do so that his mind and paws stay off your table. The Busy Buddy Tug-a-Jug treat dispenser toy is a great way to stimulate your dog's mind and keep him satisfied.

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Fourth of July pets-Pet Tips

Repost of article from ASPCA

Fourth of July Safety Tips  for pets

from Mickey's Pet Supplies

Your online source for helpful information for pets

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
  
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
  
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
  
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
  
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
  
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
  
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
  
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.