SPCA Offers Tips to Keep Riverhead Pets Safe During The Holidays

With the holiday heres, it is important to remember that many potential hazards face our furry friends.

However, Riverhead residents can take some simple precautions to keep their pets safe.

The Suffolk County SPCA offers pet owners the following tips to help keep their pets safe during the holiday season:

• Tinsel should be avoided because your pet may think that it is a toy to play with and they may accidentally swallow and choke on the tiny strings.
• Do not place chemicals in your tree’s water. It may keep your tree fresh longer, but it can prove very harmful to your pets. Do not allow your pet to drink the tree’s water because it can get dirty very quickly and many pine needles fall into the water dish. A tight-fitting tree skirt over the tree stand may help to prevent this.
• Always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water in his/her own dish at all times. Electric window displays and lights are very inviting, not only to you and your neighborhood, but to your curious pets as well. Make sure that all of your electrical connections and outlets are secured and concealed. Tape electrical cords to the walls or floors to ensure that your pet will not chew on them.
• Holiday plants, such as poinsettias, amaryllis, mistletoe, and holly are very poisonous to your pets. If these plants are ingested, they may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or even more serious problems. If you purchase these items for your home, please make sure that they are out of your pet’s reach.
• Before your family celebrations, make sure that your pets have a safe, quiet area where they can rest. It is best to keep your pet safely in a bedroom where they can escape from all the noise and festivities. If your pet enjoys having company come over, just make sure they do not become too overwhelmed. They need quiet time to rest and relax just like you do.
• After you have had your fill of holiday turkey, ham, chicken, and/or roast beef make sure you throw those bones away - do not give them to your pet. You might think that you are giving them a treat, but actually you may be threatening their health. Bones can splinter easily and cause damage to your pet’s throat and intestines. Bones can also become lodged in your pet’s throat, which may result in your pet not being able to breathe.
• After your gifts are opened, quickly dispose of all plastic wrappings, ribbons, and bows that can be easily swallowed by curious pets.
• Make sure that all of your pets have proper ID tags on at all times because if your pet were to become lost, you would have a much greater chance of finding them if they have identification.

Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here.

More on Patch:

• Police: Drunk Amityville Man Drove 117 MPH on Southern State
• Police: Former School Security Guard Charged With Criminal Sex Acts With a Minor
• West Babylon High Senior Named Coca-Cola Scholarship Semifinalist
• Two People Found Dead in Coram
• Kosovo Boy Gets Gift of Life at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn
• Firefighter Struck, Killed by Taxi in Huntington Station
• Levittown Students Brighten Holiday for Hospitalized Children
• Police: Two Arrested After Fight in Speonk
• Lawmakers Push to Install Bulletproof Glass on All Police Cars
• Man Found Guilty in Fatal Shooting Outside Valley Stream Bar