By Dr. Doug Mader The holidays are such a wonderful time of year – but we don’t want to ruin it by having a preventable pet tragedy. I’d like to share some common sense warnings that may prevent a holiday disaster. It would be wise to take a few minutes to assess these hidden dangers before getting all get caught up in the seasonal festivities. The first obvious danger to our pets is the Christmas tree. Aside from the inherent fire risk with real trees, there is also the possibility of pets injuring themselves on the needles and ornaments. Eyes can be accidentally poked or scratched. Delicate ornaments can be broken, resulting in sharp pieces of glass or plastic that can cause cuts or potentially be eaten. Some people hang candy or popcorn on their trees. These confections can be eaten by pets, and the plastic wrappers and strings can be swallowed and cause intestinal damage. Cats like to play with shiny objects, and tinsel is notoriously dangerous. If swallowed in large quantities it can cause a blockage. Extension cords are always a hazard. Pets can be accidentally tangled up in the wires, thus potentially pulling over the tree, or…
