- Hours:
- Mon: 9A - 9P
- Tue-Fri: 9A - 10P
- Sat: 9A - 2P
- Sun: Closed
Our goal at the Animal Hospital of Streamwood is to help your pet stay healthy, help heal your pet when it is sick or injured, and to ease your pet's pain when it is hurting.
We will do this with quality care, compassion and tenderness.
Happy Holidays
HO!HO!HO! Happy Holidays from the Animal Hospital of Streamwood. Yes, that's right, the cold weather is on its way along with the snow and the holiday season. Did you know that the holidays could create dangers for your pet? Each year during holiday seasons, thousands of pets are seriously injured and/or become extremely ill. It is a busy time of year for planning. shopping, cooking and baking, rushing to and from parties, and get-togethers with relatives and friends. Oftentimes, we forget about our four legged members of the family during the rush and festivities. The team at the Animal Hospital of Streamwood has come up with some of the things that can be hazardous to your pet. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make the holidays a happy time for everyone. The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things you should not share with you little best friends.
Some of the more common holiday hazards include:
- Bones
- The holiday turkey or chicken will leave a lot of bones, but DO NOT feed them to your pet. Beware of steak bones too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestinal tract.
- Turkey Dinner
- Though it is so tempting, DO NOT give your pets scraps from the table. It can cause gastrointestinal upset even predispose pets to pancreatitis.
- Plastic Wrap/Aluminum Foil
- Coated with good tasting juices it is enticing, but can cause intestinal obstruction if eaten by your pet.
- Holiday Plants
- Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. The berries on the mistletoe are toxic to pets. The lovely poinsettia may not be truly poisonous but, its milky white sap and leaves can certainly cause severe gastric distress. It is best to keep the plants out of your pet's reach.
- Electrical Cords
- Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Wiring can cause shocks or burns when chewed on. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way. Also, remember to unplug lights when pets are unattended.
- Candles
- Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is even more important if left at kitty's eye level or within puppy's chewing zone. A happy tail, a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous. Anchor candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.
- Pine Needles
- Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough. They can also cause your pet to have vomiting and diarrhea. Clean up pine needles frequently around tree.
- Holiday Tree
- Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat or large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using strong cord or rope. DO NOT let dogs drink the water in the tree stand because the water may contain harmful chemicals. Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric upsets. Be sure it is inaccessible or not used. Avoid sugar and aspirin additives in the water as well.
- Tinsel
- Tinsel is very attractive and dangerous. If ingested, intestinal obstruction and choking are potential problems.
- Ribbons
- Cats and dogs, especially puppies and kittens, find the bows and ribbons on package interesting to play with and chew. The dye in the ribbon is harmful to them, and the ribbon can damage the internal organs or cause suffocation them if lodged in the throat. Resist the temptation to tie ribbons around pet's necks. Pets can tighten them resulting in choking or hanging himself or herself if ribbon is caught on an object.
- Ornaments
- Ornaments can break when knocked off branches by a wagging tail or playful paw. Crushed glass Christmas balls can result in nasty cuts. Hang your treasured ornaments higher on the tree. Use wooden or non-breakable ornaments on the lower branches to prevent any disaster. Hang candy canes out of reach also.
- Stress and Company
- With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaking pets. Make sure your pets have collars and tags on in case of escape. If your pet is known for escaping you may want to consider a microchip, which can be purchased at the hospital. Ask guests to keep an eye out for pets under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children and rooms full of unfamiliar people. Remind guests not to feed any kind of food to your animals. Provide a special quiet place with a blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too stressful.
- Antifreeze
- Be careful not to leave spilled antifreeze on the ground. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that dogs and cats love but, it can make them very sick. If ingested it causes kidney failure that is often irreversible and fatal.
- Frostbite
- Be careful of the weather. Cold weather requires extra diligence on your part, which may be difficult with all the distractions of holiday time. Be certain your pet has plenty of drinking water. Cold can cause frostbite in your pets, just as it can in humans. Ears are particularly sensitive to frostbite. Clean out snow in dogs feet when they come in from outside. Precautions can ensure that your pet is safe from the cold weather and ice.
- NO Animals for Gifts
- Please DO NOT give kittens and puppies or any pet of any age as gifts. Remember the first weeks of a new life or sudden change in an adult pet is extremely traumatic for them. Instead, give gifts of pet supplies, food, and accessories. Then after the holidays, the loved one can select the pet of their choice to bring home to peace and quiet. Choosing their per allows the new pet owner to select a pet that best fits them and their life style. This will also provide the happy new pet owner time to spend with his/her new lifetime commitment. Owning a pet is a major responsibility and should be taken seriously.
Chocolate
Chocolate can be deadly to your pets. Even small amounts of theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets. Larger doses can be fatal. While most pet owners expect a dog to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate, few realize its toxic potential. The lethal dose depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has six to nine times as much of the substance as milk chocolate does.
Amount of Chocolate that is Dangerous
- Small dogs: 4 to 10 ounces of milk chocolate or 1/2 to 1 ounce of baking chocolate.
- Medium dogs: 1 to 1 1/2 pounds milk chocolate or 2 to 3 ounces of baking chocolate.
- Large dogs: 2 to 4 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 4 to 8 ounces of baking chocolate.
Avoid wrapping chocolate candies and leaving them at dog level. If chocolate is consumed consult your veterinarian immediately.
The team at the Animal Hospital of Streamwood hopes you found our hazards helpful and informative. If accidents occur, please contact us or an emergency hospital right away. Have a wonderful and safe holiday with your families, and your four legged friends.