{"id":6563,"date":"2021-12-29T15:08:01","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T15:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=6563"},"modified":"2021-12-29T15:08:01","modified_gmt":"2021-12-29T15:08:01","slug":"ten-new-years-eve-pet-dangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/ten-new-years-eve-pet-dangers\/","title":{"rendered":"10 New Year\u2019s Eve Pet Dangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dog,Whether you\u2019ll be at home curled up on the couch with a movie, hosting a get-together, or going out, it\u2019s important to take a few extra precautions to keep your pets safe this New Year\u2019s Eve. After all, no one wants to ring in the\u00a0<\/span>new year<\/span>\u00a0with a sick pet.\u00a0<\/span>Join<\/span>\u00a0us as we<\/span>\u00a0count<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>down the ten most common New Year\u2019s Eve pet dangers<\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cat,<\/p>\n

10. Balloons<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Pop!\u00a0<\/span>That\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0a sound no pet parent wants to hear. A piece of popped balloon can whip into your pet\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>eyes and cause damage<\/span>. If\u00a0<\/span>swallowed, balloon pieces\u00a0<\/span>can become a choking hazard or can cause an intestinal obstruction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Just\u00a0<\/span>err on the<\/span>\u00a0safe\u00a0<\/span>side\u00a0<\/span>and skip the balloons\u00a0<\/span>when decorating in a pet-friendly area of your home<\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Tinsel and Confetti Poppers<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

As the clock strikes midnight, DO NOT\u00a0<\/span>use<\/span>\u00a0any confetti poppers that\u00a0<\/span>contain<\/span>\u00a0string, tinsel, garland, or pieces of plastic\u00a0<\/span>near<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>your pets. Also,\u00a0<\/span>skip the tinsel<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>especially<\/span>\u00a0if you have a cat! T<\/span>insel<\/span>, as well as other string-like items,\u00a0<\/span>can get stuck\u00a0<\/span>beneath<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>your cat\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0tongue or in the stomach \u2013 another potential cause for an intestinal obstruction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"nervous<\/p>\n

8. Loud Noises<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

If your city\u00a0<\/span>has a<\/span>\u00a0New Year\u2019s Eve fireworks<\/a><\/span>\u00a0display,<\/span>\u00a0or if\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0hosting a\u00a0<\/span>get-together that may get loud at midnight, prepare\u00a0<\/span>a safe haven<\/span>\u00a0for your pet<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 especially if your pet has<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>noise anxiety<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>To prevent pets from bolting out of the house, keep\u00a0<\/span>them<\/span> in a closed-off room (or crate if <\/span><\/span>trained<\/span><\/span><\/a>)\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0music<\/span>, white noise,<\/span>\u00a0or the TV on to help reduce\u00a0<\/span>the impact of more\u00a0<\/span>scary\u00a0<\/span>noise<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>You may also want to consider talking to your family veterinarian about medications, sprays, and training tips that may help reduce your pet\u2019s anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Trash<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Pets\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span> get into the trash are more likely to eat toxic or hazardous foods, suffer <\/span>exposure<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>tremorgenic<\/span>\u00a0mycotoxins<\/span><\/span><\/a> from moldy foods, or <\/span>experience<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>pancreatitis<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>So,<\/span>\u00a0if\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0hosting a get-together, keep the trash secured and promptly clean<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>up any messes! Also,\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a good idea<\/span>\u00a0to take the trash out before heading to bed!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"puppy<\/p>\n

6. Fatty\/Salty Foods<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

If you plan to s<\/span>erve snacks<\/span>, keep them away from your pet!\u00a0<\/span>Salty<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fatty, and sugary<\/span>\u00a0foods like butter, desserts, chips, popcorn, etc.<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0can c<\/span>ause your pet to be\u00a0<\/span>extremely sick<\/span>\u00a0and may cause\u00a0<\/span><\/span>pancreatitis<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>If you are having company over, remind all your guests not to feed your pets without your permission.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Grapes, Raisins, & Zante Currants<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Anything that\u00a0<\/span>contains<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>grapes, raisins<\/span><\/span><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zante currants<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>like<\/span>\u00a0f<\/span>ruitcake,\u00a0<\/span>bread<\/span>s<\/span>, trail mix, and\u00a0<\/span>some\u00a0<\/span>salad<\/span>s)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can cause kidney damage.<\/span>\u00a0If you choose to serve these foods, keep pets out of the food area, especially if snacks\u00a0<\/span>may be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>unattended<\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4<\/span>. Caffeine Products<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Trying to stay awake \u2018til midnight with coffee and energy drinks?<\/span>\u00a0While one or two\u00a0<\/span>small licks<\/span>\u00a0are unlikely to cause harm,\u00a0<\/span>a large amount of caffeine can cause increased blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias in pets<\/span>. This<\/span>\u00a0can lead to tremors or seizures. Common sources of caffeine toxicity include coffee beans, teas, energy drinks, diet pills, etc.).<\/span>\u00a0Keep these items out of your\u00a0<\/span>pets\u2019\u00a0<\/span>reach<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>coffee drinkers, we suggest using sealed containers to store<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>grounds or beans<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/span>. Chocolate<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Chocolate<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0causes gastrointestinal upset, as well as cardiac\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0neurological side effects. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Cocoa powder and Baker\u2019s chocolate are also\u00a0<\/span>highly<\/span>\u00a0dangerous.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Determined pets\u00a0<\/span>typically<\/span>\u00a0find a way to get into desserts and chocolates placed on the counter or table, so we recommend keeping these goodies in the refrigerator or an upper cupboard!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dog,<\/p>\n

2<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Xylitol<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

1. Alcohol <\/span>Toxicity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

When consumed by pets, a<\/span>lcoholic beverages and alcohol<\/a>-soaked<\/span><\/span>\u00a0foods\u00a0<\/span>cause<\/span>\u00a0drops<\/span>\u00a0in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature<\/span>. Toxicity levels vary based on the type of alcohol and the amount consumed. Never leave drinks or\u00a0<\/span>alcoholic foods unattended with your pet<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>present and<\/span>\u00a0clean up spills<\/span>\u00a0promptly<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Another common cause of alcohol toxicity in pets is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>yeast dough<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>K<\/span>eep\u00a0<\/span>pets out of the kitchen if y<\/span>ou\u2019<\/span>re\u00a0<\/span>making homemade bread<\/span>, cinnamon rolls,\u00a0<\/span>buns,\u00a0<\/span>etc. for the holiday!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dog,<\/p>\n

We hope you and your pets have a safe New Year\u2019s Eve, as well as a safe year ahead! Over the holidays and throughout the year,\u00a0<\/span>make sure to have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>contact information for your<\/span>\u00a0family veterinarian,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ASPCA Animal Poison Control<\/span><\/span><\/a>, and your local animal emergency hospital saved in your phone so you can quickly\u00a0<\/span>reach<\/span>\u00a0a veterinary professional\u00a0<\/span>if you\u00a0<\/span>require<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>help\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>assess<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0your pet\u2019s status<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"Animal<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

Freshening up your breath for that midnight kiss? Careful where you place your gum or mint<\/span>s<\/span>! These products, as well as oral hygiene products, makeup and skincare products, baby wipes, condiments, peanut butter, and many sugar-free foods like candies, desserts, and baked goods\u00a0<\/span>contain<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>x<\/span>ylitol<\/span><\/span><\/a>. This sugarless sweetener<\/span>\u00a0is highly toxic to pets and can cause low blood sugar levels, as well as liver damage and failure.\u00a0<\/span>Note<\/span>\u00a0that xylitol is also\u00a0<\/span>being labeled as<\/span>\u00a0\u201cbirch sugar\u201d\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0\u201cwood sugar<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>o always read ingredient labels carefully!\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n