#1: Use caution with holiday decor around pets 

Festive decor, Christmas trees, dangling ornaments, and candles can transform your home into a magical but potentially dangerous winter wonderland. Take precautions when adorning your home with the following:

• Christmas trees — Many pets will want to investigate the new smells and tree branches so ensure they can’t tip the tree over and possibly injure themselves by securing it to a ceiling or doorway with fishing line. In addition, never use water additives in the tree stand. Pets can mistake tree water for their personal water dish, and drinking additive-laden water can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.
• Ornaments — Place all fragile ornaments such as glass balls and food-based decorations high on the tree to prevent mischievous pets from injuring their paws on broken ornaments or ingesting dangerous ingredients. 
• Tinsel —Tinsel and ribbon are common culprits in many feline holiday emergencies, leading to intestinal blockages that often require surgical removal. Ensure you place all tinsel and decorative ribbons out of paw’s reach. 
• Candles and potpourri — Place lighted candles far out of reach of swatting paws or wagging tails to prevent burned fur or house fires. Avoid using scented candles or potpourri that contains essential oils because they can be toxic to pets, especially the oils described here.

#2: Keep pets out of the kitchen and away from the dinner table 

Many holiday celebrations revolve around large savory meals and endless sweet treats. The kitchen is a popular gathering place during family festivities and the delicious aromas are difficult for pets—and most humans—to resist. However, kitchen chaos can lead to counter-surfing and dumpster-diving pets eager to sample the day’s bounty. Many holiday ingredients and dishes are toxic or difficult for pets to digest. Sharing your plate with your pet can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) distress and inflammation including pancreatitis which is a potentially deadly inflammatory condition that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and dehydration. Additionally, never share leftover bones with your pet as they can cause dangerous GI blockages which may require emergency surgery. Also ensure you put a pet-proof lid on all garbage cans within your pet’s reach and frequently remove all garbage and food scraps from the home.

#3: Avoid pet-toxic holiday plants and flowers

Floral centerpieces and seasonal plants are popular holiday gifts; however, ensure you do not bring any pet-toxic plants into your home. Many plants and especially lilies are severely toxic to cats. Eating only a small amount of any part of the plant, including the pollen and leaves, can cause drooling, vomiting, and decreased appetite, and can lead to kidney failure. While the popular poinsettia is no longer considered toxic unless large amounts are consumed, the sap in poinsettia leaves is irritating to your pet’s mouth and throat and eating the leaves likely will cause your pet to become nauseated and vomit. Always check the ASPCA toxic plant list before adorning your table or home with floral or plant centerpieces, and keep these other popular holiday plants out of pet’s reach:

• Mistletoe
• Balsam
• Amaryllis
• Pine
• Cedar
• Holly
• Christmas cactus 

#4: Keep wires, batteries, and small toys out of paw’s reach

The numerous cords and wires required for your twinkling lights, electric candles, and other holiday decorations can be dangerous to curious pets who may mistake them for new chew toys. Keep all cords and wires out of paw’s reach because chewing or swallowing them can lead to serious injury including oral burns, electric shock, or GI distress or blockages. 

Ensure your pet does not have access to any batteries because most contain zinc which is toxic if ingested. It also can cause GI distress, anemia, seizures, and death in some cases. Keep a watchful eye as well on any small children’s toys since your pet could mistake them for new pet toys and swallow them which could cause intestinal damage or a blockage that requires surgical removal. 

#5: Prepare for unexpected pet emergencies  

It is not uncommon for Christmas cats and “Holidogs” to let their mischievous nature get the better of them despite your best efforts to keep them out of holiday trouble. Ensure you have the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number, your family veterinarian’s contact information, and our Animal Emergency Care number and address easily accessible in the event of an accidental toxin ingestion or injury. Common pet holiday emergencies may require an extended hospital stay which can result in a larger veterinary bill. Consider purchasing a pet health insurance plan like Trupanion to ensure funds are available to cover emergency treatment costs. Trupanion can pay your veterinary clinic directly which eliminates the need to submit paperwork and wait for your reimbursement. Other pet emergency payment options include pet health savings accounts, Care Credit, Scratch Pay, and short-term loans.

Call your family veterinarian right away if your pet gets into any holiday trouble. If you need help after hours, Animal Emergency Care is open 24 hours a day. #AECprevents

Sources:

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/holiday-pet-safety

https://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_multi_dangerous_winter_holiday_plants

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/zinc-toxicosis/overview-of-zinc-toxicosis

The post Happy Pawlidays: 5 Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pet appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.

#1: Why do I have to fill out so much paperwork before my pet sees the emergency veterinarian?  

A few minutes can feel like hours when your pet is experiencing an emergency, and it can be frustrating to take time to fill out required hospital forms. However, it is vital to provide information on your pet’s specifics such as their age, vaccine status, symptoms, and current medications, which helps ensure your pet does not receive any medications that could negatively react with their current treatments. It is also critical for the veterinary team to know if you would like your pet to be resuscitated if they should stop breathing or experience cardiac arrest. Fortunately, many of the required forms are available online which can save precious time when you arrive at the emergency veterinary hospital. 

After the veterinarian has assessed your pet, a staff member will explain a treatment plan and cost estimate. As with human hospitals, veterinary emergency care can be expensive and clear communication is required to ensure pet owners want to go forward with the recommended treatment. 

#2: Why does it take so long for my pet to be seen by the emergency veterinarian?  

Pet emergencies can happen at any time, and often multiple pets are waiting to be examined when you arrive at the hospital. Additionally, many family veterinarians rely on emergency veterinarians to monitor and care for their critically sick patients after hours. Each pet who arrives at a veterinary emergency hospital is triaged by a member of the nursing staff to ensure the most critically sick or injured pets receive immediate treatment.

#3: What happens when my pet goes into the emergency treatment area? 

Leaving your pet in the hands of a veterinary technician can be worrisome. Strange smells and people can be a lot for you and your pet to process when dealing with their emergency. The emergency trained staff will care for your pet in a compassionate and methodical manner to ensure they receive the treatment needed to address their illness or injury. Steps taken may include:

• Emergency resuscitation or oxygen therapy
• Placement of an intravenous (IV) catheter so that emergency medications or fluids can be quickly and easily administered 
• Placement in a comfortable cage that is labeled with your pet’s name
• Diagnostic workups which may include a blood draw or X-rays
• Regular monitoring of your pet’s vital signs
• Administration of treatments such as IV antibiotics or pain medication

#4: Why does the veterinary technician or receptionist call me with updates instead of the emergency veterinarian? 

Waiting for an update on the status of your pet can feel like an eternity. Each pet admitted into an emergency hospital will likely require several diagnostic tests to determine the best treatment plan. Diagnostics such as blood work can take time to run and interpret. Additionally, the veterinary technician staff monitors critical patients and runs diagnostic tests on all newly admitted pets. Each test and subsequent veterinary evaluation takes time. In most cases, a nurse or receptionist can reach out to you more quickly than the veterinarian who is responsible for continuously evaluating incoming emergencies as well as hospitalized patients.  

#5: Why is emergency veterinary care more expensive than my family veterinarian?  

It is not uncommon for pet owners to be concerned about the cost of their pet’s veterinary care, and emergency care is more expensive than taking your pet to your family veterinarian in most cases. Our Animal Emergency Care hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools to address problems that cannot be treated by your family veterinarian. Our hospital never closes, and this requires ample staff to provide services. Fortunately, multiple payment options are available to ensure you can cover the cost of your pet’s emergency care. Before a pet emergency occurs, consider purchasing a pet insurance plan like Trupanion which has policies that can pay your veterinary clinic directly and eliminate the need to submit paperwork and wait for reimbursements. Other payment options include:

• CareCredit
• Scratch Pay
• Pet health savings accounts
• Short-term loans

The more you know the better prepared you will be the next time your pet needs emergency treatment. Animal Emergency Care is available day or night for all your pet’s accidents, illnesses, and injuries. #AECprevents

The post What to Expect at the Emergency Vet: 5 Common Pet Owner Questions Answered appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.