A Quick Guide to your Pup & the Holidays

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The holidays can be a stressful time of year, so the last thing any of us need is a sick pooch. Here is ZPUP's quick guide to keeping your pup safe and healthy during the hectic holiday season!

PLANTS DON'T MAKE GOOD CHEW TOYS

The holidays bring lots of plants into our homes, which bring our curious pups over to investigate. Those teething puppies are even more interested - new chew toys! While the majority of holiday plants will cause only mild gastrointestional upset, some of them can be life-threatening if ingested.

English holly

English holly - Also known as Christmas holly, English holly is easily recognizable by it's shiny green, spiky leaves and bright red berries. The whole plant is toxic - stems, leaves, & berries - but it dogs will cause no more than mild gastrointestinal upset. Saponins in the leaves and berries are thought to cause the stomach and intestinal irritation. In large quantities, English holly could possibly cause intestinal blockages, however, it is not likely.

American mistletoe

American mistletoe - The whole mistletoe plant used in common holiday decorations is toxic - leaves, berries, and any extracts. The American variety is considered less toxic than the European variety of the plant. The most common signs seen in dogs who have ingested mistletoe are vomiting and diarrhea and are generally mild. Mistletoe generally only causes mild gastrointestinal upset.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia - As the most recognizable holiday plant, the poinsettia's whole plant - leaves, stems, and flowers - is toxic. All members of the poinsettia family have the milkly sap, which contains irritant properties that can cause detergent-like effect on mammilian tissue. In humans, skin contact can cause irritation, and in dogs most exposures only cause mild clinical signs. The toxicity of this plant seems to be greatly exaggerated as no deaths from poinsettia have been reported in dogs.

Christmas tree preservatives

Christmas tree preservatives - All dogs love to try to take a drink from the Christmas tree holder, but be aware that the trunk of trees hold preservatives to keep your tree fresh until long after the holidays. Commercial presevatives are generally made up of small amounts of fertilizer and dextrose. Older tree preservatives contained copper sulfate, which could be toxic to the liver.

PUPPY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

New England winters can be frigid, and even though your pup likes to frolic in the snow, it can be hard to tell how long is too long. Keep in mind the length of time your dog can spend outside will vary greatly depending on breed, size, age, and previous acclimation, but here is a quick guide to keeping your pup safe during the coldest of winter days.

Hypothermia in dogs occurs when the body temperature falls below 99.5^*F following exposure to cold environments without proper shelter.

Frostbite occurs following cold exposure when the body's temperature falls below 93^*F or following the freezing of any body part or surface. In dogs, the most common areas to become frostbitten are the tips of the ears, tail, external genitalia, and foot pads. Frostbitten skin feels cold to the touch, appears pale, and may lack sensation when being touched. With thawing the areas will swell and become painful and in a few days the tissue will shrink and become discolored. Within a couple of weeks, the area may die, scab, and slough.

Treatment of both hypothermic and frostbitten dogs includes gradual warming with blankets, warm rooms, and warm baths from 98-100^*F. Be careful of water bottles and heating pads being TOO hot! Severly frostbitten animals need veterinary care including warm intravenious liquids, pain medication, and antibiotics.

Frostbite can occur on hairless parts of the body in less than 20 minutes at temperatures of 4^*F or lower. Keep in mind that while it may feel warmer outside, wind chill can factor to a much lower temperature. Your dog should always have a wind break, if not a break from the cold, and should NEVER be left in cold temperatures alone, especially those below 20^*F.

Even though they sport a fur coat, some dogs may need extra protection from the cold. Short-coated breeds with low levels of body fat (think Greyhounds, whippets, and toy breeds, etc.) are particularly at risk. A warm, well fitting jacket can help, and you also may want to shorten your daily walks. With any breed, a well groomed dog will help protect from the cold. After spending time in the snow and rain a neatly groomed, mat-free coat will dry out faster than a dog who's coat has lacked attention. Well trimmed hair around the pads of the foot can help eliminate some of the snow and ice that will build up around the feet. Keep in mind that it's your responsibility to keep your pooch safe. Chances are if you're feeling cold and uncomfortable, your pup is, too!

Rock salt is bad for your puppy's paws, too. It can be corrosive to the pads of the feet and in extreme cases cause bleeding and scarring. Not only is rock salt bad for your pups, but it's bad for the environment, too. ZPUP carries Safe Paw, a 100% salt-free, environmentally safe alternative to rock salt.

FIX A BOWL FOR ME, PLEASE!

If you like to share your holiday meals with your pups, you must do it the right way. Most commercial pet food companies tell you not to feed anything but their poor quality ingredients, which are "nutritionally balanced" to your pet, but as long as it's done the right way, it's not the end of the world. Use these tips to safely enjoy your holiday dinners with your dog.

NEVER feed cooked bones. Cooked bones of any sort (baked, roasted, boiled, etc.) can splinter into sharp fragments. Bones that crumble when cooked can cause intentional blockages. This one is just not a good idea.

If you feed mostly dry kibble during the rest of the year, rich, fatty meats, skin, and ham can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. The safest to give are lean meats like turkey breast without any fat or skin attached. Greasy gravies are a big no-no as well.

A bit of mashed or sweet potatoes are ok, but not too much as they are already high in calories. Most veggies are ok, too, but not if cooked in a casserole with other ingredients. Make sure to finely chop or puree any vegetables, as dogs can have trouble digesting vegetables if they aren't processed for them first.

Stay away from sweets! Sweets are a big no-no for dogs. Keep some pure, canned pumpkin (with NO other ingredients added) on hand to share. It's a great treat for your pup frozen in a toy or mixed on top of his food.

Keep in mind that overfeeding in general can make your pup sick. If you're going to be giving your dog some extras during the holidays, make sure to cut down on his regular food to make up for the addition in calories!

Happy Holidays!