The Bakersfield Voice

By: Margaret Kalar

   The holidays are a special time to share with friends and family. Many people will indulge in special meals, elaborate gifts and decorations to celebrate this wonderful time of year. Pet owners need to be careful during this joyous time to prevent unnecessary tragedy. Kern County Animal Control encourages pet owners to take a few minutes to “pet proof” their holiday season to ensure that their companions will be around for many years of celebrating. 

“The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy and celebration, not one of sadness and pain due to the illness or death of a beloved family pet,” said Denise Haynes, Division Chief. “We encourage all Kern County pet owners to take the necessary precautions to keep pets safe, happy and healthy this holiday."

Follow these tips to keep your pets safe and happy this holiday season:

• Mistletoe berries, and the leaves, stem and flowers of the Poinsettia can be dangerous to pets. Keep these plants away from your pets.

• Lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. Stay away from all varieties including tiger, Asian, Japanese show, stargazer and casa blanca.

• Foods and drinks such as alcoholic beverages, seeds and pits from many fruits, chocolate, macadamia nuts, walnuts, coffee, tea, salt, onions, and other foods can be harmful and can even cause death.

• Never feed pets leftovers from the dinner table. Chicken and turkey bones can easily shatter and choke cats and dogs.

• Keep your pets on a normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea.

• Aluminum foil and cellophane candy wrappers are dangerous for your pets, as they can cause vomiting and could even produce intestinal blockage.

• Keep wires and other decorations out of the reach of your pets. Tinsel, glass ornaments and garlands can easily attract pets, but are dangerous choking hazards.  If ingested, they can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal blockage.  Electric decorations such as stringed lights can give your pets a shock should they chew on the wires.

• The usual commotion of the holiday season can be stressful on animals as well as humans. Put your pets in a quiet room or quiet area of the house when guests are visiting. Make sure your pets are wearing the proper identification. If during the commotion they become confused and escape the safety of your home, proper identification will ensure that if your pet is found, he will be returned to you. If your pet becomes lost, log onto www.petharbor.com to see if it has been brought to the shelter.

• When traveling with your pets, make sure they are properly secured in the vehicle. Don't fly your pets in the cargo area on airplanes unless absolutely necessary.

• Keep pets away from Christmas tree water, which may contain fertilizers that, if ingested, can cause a stomach upset.  Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and cause a pet to end up with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

For more information, call 868-7104 or visit: www.co.kern.ca.us/acd to print out a flyer.