Make Your Pet's Holiday Happy by Providing a Safe Home
November 11 2003 - 4:39AM
PR Newswire (US)
Make Your Pet's Holiday Happy by Providing a Safe Home PETCO
Provides Tips for 'Pet Proofing' Your Home SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11
/PRNewswire/ -- It's almost time to trim the tree, get out the
holiday cookbooks and start wrapping presents. As you prepare for
the coming festive season, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. offers these
tips to ensure that your pets also have a healthy and happy
holiday. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGO ) New
decorations and other changes in the home environment pique a pet's
curiosity, and many companion animals react by exploring new
objects with their mouths. Here are some pointers to ensure that
the only thing Fido bites into is a chewy toy meant specifically
for him. Christmas Trees: Pine needles can get lodged in an
animal's esophagus, making it painfully prickly for your pet to
swallow. Even drinking the water from the Christmas tree base is
enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of
appetite. Deck the Halls: A bunch of mistletoe may tempt a festive
kiss, but eating this holiday greenery could cause a drop in blood
pressure, as well as vomiting and swollen throat and mouth tissue.
Other holiday foliage, including Holly and Poinsettias, contain
toxins that could lead to severe stomach problems, as well as skin,
mouth and eye irritation. Worse yet, Yew is extremely toxic, and
one mouthful could be deadly. Tinsel and Lights: A flickering flame
and shiny decorations intrigue companion animals. When lighting the
menorah, advent wreath or decorative candles, keep pets in another
room where paws and claws can't reach them. With electrical lights,
remember to tape exposed electrical cords to walls or floors to
ensure no chewing or tripping. Tinsel and wrapping paper may look
like fun toys, but they can cause choking, upset stomach or more
serious problems. Visions of Sugar Plums: Cookies and candies are
as much about holiday tradition as a snowy street scene; however,
some of them can be dangerous to your pets. For example, chocolate
contains a chemical known as theobromine, which can be highly toxic
to your four-legged friends. Winter Wonderland: A blanket of snow
may get children excited about Santa's imminent arrival, but it can
also pose problems for your pets. Very young or old animals can
suffer stress, frostbite and hypothermia when their body
temperature drops just a few degrees below normal. The tips of
ears, feet and tail are common areas affected. Antifreeze Alert:
The onset of winter often means new antifreeze for the family car,
which is a substance that can be especially harmful to the family
pet. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which causes rapid and
permanent kidney damage to your companion animal if ingested in
even small amounts. Finally, the best present you can give to your
pets this holiday season is good health and some extra loving
attention. PETCO is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet
food and supplies. PETCO offers its customers a complete assortment
of pet-related products at competitive prices, with superior levels
of customer service at convenient locations. PETCO operates more
than 650 neighborhood stores in 43 states and the District of
Columbia, as well as a leading destination for on-line pet food and
supplies at http://www.petco.com/. The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's
non-profit organization, has raised more than $13 million since
inception in 1999. More than 1,600 non-profit grassroots animal
welfare organizations nationwide have received support from the
Foundation. For a longer version of this release, please visit
http://www.petco.com/. SOURCE PETCO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ CONTACT: Shawn Underwood, PETCO,
+1-858-909-4662, Web site: http://www.petco.com/
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