Christmas and Pets

beachbeth

cyberbob wrote: »

If you change your animals diet to anything you will upset there Tummy.

So how often do people eat turkey? For a lot of people they perhaps have it once or twice a year at the most. Therefore, don't start giving it to your dog Christmas day when he/she isn't used to it.

giantmutantbroccoli

Aside from specifically toxic things, this is all pretty much just common sense - don't let your pets eat the tree decorations or chew on the electrical cables.
Re turkey being toxic - I'd never heard of this, and our dogs used to get scraps of of turkey quite often, not just at Christmas. I just googled it and this came up:
http://www.oes.org/page2/2113~The_Great_Turkey_Debate.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/dpancrea.html
It does seem that the only problem is with it being high in fat - bad if you feed your dog JUST turkey, or lots of turkey at once, but fine if he just gets a few scraps as a Christmas treat. Also, any high-fat meal could cause this, there's nothing special about turkey skin. I suspect the reason there's a bit of a hype about it is because there's so much of it going spare at Christmas, Thanksgiving etc that dogs will often be fed a meal entirely made up of turkey and fat.

Anyway. Tips for christmas with small animals, because they shouldn't be left out
1) Plastic berries look just as realistic to rats as they do to you - keep them away from your critters!
2) Don't put any decorations within reach of cages.
3) Don't hang chocolate on your tree or put food presents under the tree.
4)DO remember that the tree is a useful ladder for getting access to other parts of the room, like the top of the tv, the mantlepiece or daido/picture rail (depending on tree height).
5) If you have candles, remember rats think they taste great. Even the parrafin ones! The odd nibble before you catch them shouldn't do any harm (although do keep an eye on them, especially if the candle is scented).
6)Do remember that if you've just eaten 5 pounds of thornton's best your hands will smell like a chocolate factory - wash them before you handle any critters or they may be mistaken for a snack.

wannabepennypincher

This seems really really obvious but if your pet doesn't like fireworks then there is a good chance he/she won't enjoy listening to crackers going off. I usually take a moment to explain this to my younger niece's and nephew when they come over on boxing day.

I couldn't put a tree up this year- the kittens would just rip it too shreds so waiting until they are older.

beachbeth

On the subject of pancreatitis, see paragraph 7 beginning "advise your guests...."

http://www.ideas-4-pets.com/articles/give-your-dog-a-stress-free-christmas/

cyberbob

beachbeth wrote: »

So how often do people eat turkey? For a lot of people they perhaps have it once or twice a year at the most. Therefore, don't start giving it to your dog Christmas day when he/she isn't used to it.

I have not said change there diet I have said a few pieces. Your taking what I said out of context. If you actually read what I said I said a couple of pieces of turkey. Not a full christmas dinner.:rolleyes:

cyberbob

beachbeth wrote: »

On the subject of pancreatitis, see paragraph 7 beginning "advise your guests...."

http://www.ideas-4-pets.com/articles/give-your-dog-a-stress-free-christmas/

Not exactly a scientific Journal is it. Anyway as I said earlier a sudden high fat meal can trigger pancreatitis which is what that says basically

beachbeth

But why take the risk of feeding your dog something different, especially on Christmas day when the vets are shut?

I personally know a vet who is now retired but had quite a few clients with dogs who had poorly tummies after eating turkey on Christmas day. She also had clients whose dog ate very small amounts of turkey skin and developed pancreatitis. She knew other vets who had clients whose dogs died after eating turkey skin because they developed pancreatitis.

The website I quoted is just one of many that tells you not to feed your dog turkey skin. There are plenty more.

http://webvet.com/main/article/id/2117/med/0

http://www.chihuahuanook.com/chatrooms/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=6

[Deleted User]

skipsmum wrote: »

Our last dog (GSD) ate a whole string of tinsel and had sparkly poo for days

Last christmas our terrier drank a cup of baileys coffee someone left on the floor. She wobbled round and then slept for hours, cost us £60 to see the vet who said she was fine,and I didn't sleep at all Christmas eve in case she was unconcious!

sparkly poo....!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T

Buttonmoons

wannabepennypincher wrote: »

This seems really really obvious but if your pet doesn't like fireworks then there is a good chance he/she won't enjoy listening to crackers going off. I usually take a moment to explain this to my younger niece's and nephew when they come over on boxing day.

I couldn't put a tree up this year- the kittens would just rip it too shreds so waiting until they are older.

I don't think you'll ever escape cats destroying your xmas tree :rotfl: No matter what age! My Nana has 7 (yes 7!) cats, and the worst one for attacking her tree, is the oldest and fattest one, it becomes a kitten again when it sees those dangly baubles and shiny tinsel! At least when they are kittens they might not weigh enough to knock it over.....(mines have already done that!)

[Deleted User]

Buttonmoons wrote: »

I don't think you'll ever escape cats destroying your xmas tree :rotfl: No matter what age! My Nana has 7 (yes 7!) cats, and the worst one for attacking her tree, is the oldest and fattest one, it becomes a kitten again when it sees those dangly baubles and shiny tinsel! At least when they are kittens they might not weigh enough to knock it over.....(mines have already done that!)

:rotfl:
my 5.5k maine coon still thinks he's a kitten. The tree was lovely the first night it went up, now its in it's usual state, tinsel everywhere, big cat shaped hole and a pair of eyes looking out... approach with caution!