Keep These Holiday Hazards Away From Pets: Veterinarians Name Chocolate, Xylitol and Lilies
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, homes fill with rich food, decorations and guests. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warns that the festivities hide real risks for pets: chocolate, baked goods containing the sugar substitute xylitol, table scraps, and seasonal plants such as lilies, holly and mistletoe can poison or injure animals, while tinsel, candles, electrical cords and Christmas trees can also hurt a curious pet.
Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president of the AVMA, says the best gift a pet can receive this holiday season is good health and safety: keep seasonal hazards out of reach, provide a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle, and have emergency plans in place. The association also cautions against surprising someone with a live pet as a holiday gift, saying pets are long-term commitments of time, planning, money and emotion, and the decision should never be made impulsively or without the recipient's foreknowledge; a collar, toy or gift certificate, with the future owner involved in choosing the pet later, is a better option.
For your own pets, the AVMA suggests practical, healthy gifts: a veterinary wellness exam, toys that encourage exercise and mental stimulation, nutritional treats made for pets, updated parasite prevention, pet insurance, and a microchip or updated chip information. Bailey notes that even something as simple as a microchip can be a lifesaving gift if a pet is ever lost. (Source: American Veterinary Medical Association)
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：一只猫扑向圣诞树（Jennifer C. 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0） / Image: 一只猫扑向圣诞树, by Jennifer C., Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
