Watch what your animals are eating over the holidays

Dec. 22—The time-honored American tradition of conspicuous Christmas consumption isn’t just for humans. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center provides the following list of holiday hazards for pets: Alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans), moldy or spoiled foods, onions, onion powder, fatty foods, salt and yeast dough.

Lilies are potentially deadly for cats; poinsettias may cause vomiting or nausea; mistletoe can cause heart problems but usually just stomach upset; and eating holly leads to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and lethargy.

Drinking fertilized tree water results in stomach upset. Stagnant tree water (and, hey, whose isn’t?) is a bacterial breeding ground. Consumption leads to vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Chewing electric cords can result in electrocution. Ribbons or tinsel can cause intestinal obstruction. Batteries contain corrosives. If swallowed, they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, stomach and intestines. Glass ornaments can be chewed and swallowed. I don’t have to explain what that means.

Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by drinking from pots or spills or by rubbing against leaky containers. Self-grooming can lead to severe oral, skin and eye damage. Dry potpourri can be toxic or cause an intestinal foreign body.

Drugs: Even small doses of pain relievers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants (cats love Effexor), vitamins and diet pills can be lethal. One regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a 10-pound dog. Less than one regular-strength acetaminophen tablet is dangerous to a cat. Check with your veterinarian before giving any medication.

Winter hazards: Drinking just one teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a cat; four teaspoons would be dangerous to a 10-pound dog. Propylene glycol antifreeze is much safer. Ice melting products can be irritating to skin and mouth. Rat and mouse killers are cat and dog killers, too. Locating these baits in areas that are inaccessible to them guarantees nothing; dying varmints staggering into a pet’s home just makes sport hunting easier. Swallowing a poisoned rodent is dangerous to one’s health, regardless of species.

Think your pet may have eaten something poisonous? Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP. Have a safe and merry Christmas.

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