What can all of us do this year to make things a bit less chaotic than they were last year? Well, the holidays always present the same challenges whenever they come around, but an awareness of some pitfalls may help tone things down a bit. Read on, if you dare, remembering that the key word here is “may.”
If you think I am about to espouse the importance of not sleeping on the railroad tracks or plugging in appliances while taking a bath, you are mistaken. Common sense always applies, but some of the more potentially dangerous things and situations in our houses during the holiday season may not be quite so obvious. For example, the well informed pet owner may know that certain “Christmas” plants such as poinsettias, hollies, lilies and mistletoe can be very harmful to pets, but how many know that pine needles, when ingested, can puncture holes in an animal’s intestine? (I know that I didn’t.)
Consider the importance of the need to retreat at this migraine-challenged time of year. Pet owners may secretly wish to do the same when the chaos of too many relatives, too much noise and a general overflow of irritation reaches a crescendo. Just imagine how the animals in your house must feel! Make sure pets can escape the frenetic pace of holiday activities and go and hide if they want to. (Be jealous if you want to. And even go and hide under the bed with them, if you must. Remember, however, that you are not an animal and have the intellectual capacity to reason out why your in-laws make you want to scream and shed blood.)
Have you heard about Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower essence, which is available in most health food stores? (No, this is not an exercise in horticulture while listening to classical music!) This natural stress reliever, which can be used along with conventional medicines, is good for both pets and their owners, and aids in recovery from injury, fright, and travel fatigue and general irritation. Put a few drops in the dog’s water bowl or rub a drop or two on their ear. Think of the bond you could form with your pet! This is something you can do together instead of that “romp in the park” on Sunday mornings (when you would rather remain in bed anyway).
Anchor your Christmas tree to the ceiling with a heavy string (or rope) to keep it from falling on pets. This may sound like that advice about not falling asleep on the railroad tracks, but accidents still can and do often happen. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, do not let pets drink the “holiday tree” water. It may contain additives like fertilizers, and stagnant water can often harbor bacteria. Do not put aspirin in the water. If a pet ingests aspirin-laced water, it may mean a quick trip to the vet with serious consequences.
Tree decorations can be deadly to that inquisitive and playful canine and feline as well. Cats are attracted to tinsel, and if they eat it can block their intestines. Hang them high out of their reach (like that old Clint Eastwood movie). While you are in the mood for hanging, keep those ornaments as far away from pets as possible. To animals, they resemble toys and ingestion can result in life-threatening emergencies. Shards of broken glass are often the cause of serious injury.
Remember to put away toys after children open their gifts. (Be strong and resist the urge to play with them yourself as well.) Those small plastic pieces and rubber balls can and often do cause choking and intestinal blockage in dogs. In some cases, removal can be very traumatic and costly, involving surgery. Keep pets away from gift wrapping as well. Discarded ribbon and string as well as proximity to scissors are accidents waiting to happen.
Avoid decorations with things swimming in them. Snow globes, for example, contain anti-freeze, which is poisonous to pets. (I wouldn’t let any of your houseguests ingest them either, no matter how tempted you might be!) The water in snow scenes may also contain Salmonella. Other toxic decorations, like bubbling lights and snow sprays, can cause severe reactions when inhaled. Styrofoam and tinsel are choking hazards that can cause intestinal obstruction.
Keep candles on high shelves. If you celebrate Chanukah, place the menorah far away from the paws of inquisitive pets. This might not be so easy, as the menorah display, which is the centerpiece of the festival of lights, is a fundamental aspect of the beauty of the celebration. You still have to be careful though, because a playful pet can knock a candle out of its holder and start a fire. (The miracle of the oil and the joyousness of the occasion will not prevent this from happening, but your common sense will.) Use fireplace screens to avoid burns. A burning fireplace is a symbol of the warmth and comfort of home and hearth. For he or she who plays with fire, however, Smoky the Bear can’t always be around to help evacuate and give instructions. (He gets some time off for the holidays too, you know.)
And so this busy time of year, stop and look before you leap because there aren’t too many roses to smell. Remember too, that he who hesitates is lost and that time waits for no man. In general, accept the mayhem and inconsistencies of the season with a grain of salt, a drop of common sense, a pinch of punch and a sincere smile. If you follow my advice, all may not be well, but it will at least seem to be. After all, if you are expecting to see a sleigh pulled by a fat man and eight reindeer, how much reality do you really have to face anyway?
Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!
A Morning Kiss
A morning kiss, a discreet touch of his nose landing somewhere on the middle of my face.
Because his long white whiskers tickled, I began every day laughing.
Janet F Faure