Do You Know the Top Holiday Hazards for Pets?

So there's Uncle Jake at the holiday table. He's happily devoured a plate of fatty spare ribs and wants to share the bones with your family dog.

Just say no.

The holiday season presents a feast of health hazards to your cats, dogs and any other family pets that may pad about your tables, floors or festive decorations. What may be acceptable to one animal's digestive tract will land another in the emergency room.

Bottom Line: Keep pets away from these items, which can be toxic to pets:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Onions, onion powder
• Fatty foods and salt
• Yeast dough
• Christmas tree water: It may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea and diarrhea if ingested.
• Electric cords: Avoid animal exposure to electric cords. They could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide the cords. Never let your pet chew on them.
• Ribbons or tinsel: These can get caught up in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction.
• Batteries: They contain corrosives. If ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Potpourris: Though popular household fragrances are commonly used during the holiday season, pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills or by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Exposure can result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage.

Pet owners can prepare themselves in case of emergency by keeping telephone numbers for their veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP) in a convenient location.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately