Protect your pets from dangers of holiday treats

Holiday decorations and foods are potential hazards that can sicken or even kill family pets.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
When Fluffy looks up at your Christmas tree, she doesn't see hundreds of tiny daggers waiting to tear up her innards.
She sees a buffet of smooth, sparkly spangles, just waiting to be swatted at and eaten.
Tinsel is just one hazard facing pets over the holiday season, but a major one to be wary of, local vets say.
Keeping animals safe is fairly simple if you know what to look out for. And it beats a trip to the animal hospital in this busy time of year, said Emily Walker, a veterinarian at the Albuquerque Cat Clinic.
"Tinsel can cause severe problems," Walker said. "They just start sawing through the intestines as they try to pass them. Tinsel is big, as is ribbons."
Remains a mystery
Nobody has yet figured out the age-old mystery of why cats like eating tinsel, string, furniture stuffing, balls of dust and other small household items. It's probably their way of examining them, Walker said.
"I've seen cats swallow buttons before, it's just down the hatch," Walker said. "They definitely have oral fixations. They check out everything with their mouths. They're kind of like toddlers."
Glass ornaments, as well, can be hazardous to cats and dogs; both species will eagerly swallow broken shards, Walker said.
For dogs, the bigger threat is probably chocolate, said John Heidrich, a veterinarian with Town and Country Animal Clinic.
"There's an active agent in chocolate called theobromine. That's the toxic agent," Heidrich said. "Even .04 ounces of baker's chocolate can get a dog quite ill. Most of the time, it causes vomiting, diarrhea and it sickens their stomachs."
He's not sure why dogs are attracted to sweets. Perhaps, like cats, it's a dog's way of checking them out.
One thing's for sure, he said: They don't seem to learn from their mistakes.
"It's just one of those silly things," Heidrich said. "I think it's a playing thing, but there may be some taste and texture stuff as well."
For their eyes only
Pet owners should also keep an eye on the poinsettias and lilies decorating the kitchen counter.
Lilies and mistletoe are toxic to cats, and poinsettias -- while not really toxic -- can cause gastric distress, Heidrich and Walker said.
Christmas tree lights and cords can look like chew-toys to dogs and cats, so it's best to keep animals a4way from the tree when you're not around.
And tempting as it may be, pets shouldn't be used as garbage disposals for left over turkey drippings, ham fat and other high-fat, rich food. They can cause a condition called pancreatitis, which usually leads to an overnight stay at the pet hospital.
"Usually the day after Christmas, we get a lot of pets in from people who have fed them high fat leftovers," Heidrich said. "That can be quite serious where they need to be hospitalized, put on liquids and can't eat for 24 hours."
No bones about it
Bones are also a big no-no, Walker said.
"Cats generally aren't interested in bones, but they're not safe for dogs," Walker said. "Any bone can splinter and cause internal problems."
Stick with rawhide for dogs. As for your cat, let her imbibe in catnip, Walker said.
Exotic pets could also get into trouble if not closely watched.
Ferrets have the same problems -- and curiosity -- as cats, Heidrich said.
Leave your lizards in their cages, too, he said.
"Lizards will look for a heat source and could get burned."