New Year’s Eve Is Not For Pets

                In the past few articles, you may have noticed there was a theme with all of the holiday festivities being celebrated.  I see so many illnesses, foreign body ingestions, food ingestions and many injuries during this time of the year.  In an effort to remind you about the safety precautions you should take during the holidays concerning your pets, I really hope everyone has a peaceful and uneventful season.  As much as I love to see all of your furry angels, I would much rather they visit for a simple spa day or for hugs and sloppy kisses.
Most pet parents know and recognize the common dangers of the holidays with food, presents, decorations and company, but many forget about the “post-Christmas” celebration that may bring harm to your pet.  Of course I am talking about New Year’s Eve.  This is a day and night that tends to bring many parties, people, food and especially drinks that can turn your “ringing in the new year” to “wringing out the sweat in your clothes”  from a trip to the Ash Veterinary Clinic Emergency Center.  Not only could you miss the clock striking 12, you also may be missing some dollars spent.  Obviously emergency situations can be fatal to your creature; it also can be very expensive.  So save yourself jingles and keep the dangers away.
New Year’s Eve is a time of large gatherings with much food and many drinks, loud noises (guns), and lighting of fireworks.  Although this is so much fun for the party goers, it can be a very scary time for your pets.  The first thing to know is loud noise makers and fireworks can cause severe anxiety in some pets and cause them to run away.  So this is a perfect time to get identification for all of your pets and/or check the identification your pet has on and update any necessary information, especially phone numbers.  I do recommend getting a microchip implanted in your pets as well, because tags can get lost easily.  It is a very simple and cost effective process that could mean the difference between getting your pet returned or not. When I am presented a pet that was found, the first thing we do is to use the scanners that I have that will pick up any microchip.  All of the shelters and animal control centers should have these scanners too.
Sometimes these loud noises can cause extreme anxiety which can lead to irreversible odd or destructive behavior such as chewing, biting, shaking, vomiting, inappropriate urination and defecation and general restlessness that persists. The most pleasant side effect of all is when they release their “wonderfully” smelling anal glands, which more commonly is a present from your dogs; however, cats can be just as generous when scared.  It is so sad to see the fear in their faces.  If your neighbors are the ones with the noises, just stay close to your pets and reassure them with touching, petting and hugging.  Many times this is all they need.  On the other hand, many pets are so anxious that they cause themselves trauma from trying to dig out of a kennel and make their feet bleed, rub sores on their noses, and some even panic to the point of busting thorough a screen door or window and seriously injuring themselves with metal or glass.
Keep your pets indoor during this time.  It is very cold outside and after a few cocktails; you may forget they are outside.  Also, if loud noises are displayed while they are outside, many get so scared that they will jump the fence, run into the road and can be seriously injured.  A pet’s hearing is much more sensitive than ours so sounds that do not seem to bother us so much can be very piercing and uncomfortable to your fuzzy babies. Even those New Year’s Eve horns and rattlers can be unsettling to cats, dogs, ferrets, pocket pets, and rabbits alike.
The next most common problem I see is consumption of alcoholic beverages, mixed drinks, marijuana or other types of drugs that are not tolerated well by your pet.  Some people think it is really funny if a pet will drink a beer or wine.  Yes, they too can experience a drunken feeling which can lead to alcohol poisoning and hangover symptoms afterwards, which may cause vomiting, dehydration and shaking.  If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, it would be in your pet’s best interest to come and visit me as soon as possible before the toxins are absorbed in the stomach.  Animals are no different than people in the way they metabolize these substances and they too can overdose.
Amongst all of these things, the last thing to be careful of is your guests.  Your pet may not be familiar with your guests and may be a nervous jumper or biter.  Again, some people find it hilarious that your pet will eat odd things and they freely feed them foods that are not safe or tolerated.  The best way to avoid this is to place your pets in their own secured room that will give them plenty of space and safety.  In general, you can never be too safe or too concerned when it comes to continue good health for your babies.  Hopefully you will not need to visit me on emergency but if an unfortunate incident occurs, I am always there for you at Ash Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Center- 734-782-2827.  We are located just south of the Flat Rock Speedway on Telegraph in Carleton.  I wish each and every family, pets too, to have a happy, safe, and blessed holiday season and a happy New Year that will bring good health throughout the entire year.