List offers tips on holiday pet health

Dr. James Cook, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says he has an unhappy holiday tradition: treating pets that have become sick due to holiday excesses. Here are the group's Top 10 holiday health tips:

-- Keep table scraps out of your pet's diet. "Salty, spicy and greasy" can be deadly for pets, Cook explains. Fatty foods can cause a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis in dogs, and bones can splinter in an animal's stomach. And make sure your dog can't get leftovers from the trash.

-- Chocolate should be out of reach of dogs because it's poisonous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous, with baker's chocolate being the most deadly.

-- Avoid sweets. A study reported in the Journal of the AVMA in 2006 linked xylitol, a common sweetener in baked goods, candy and chewing gum, with liver failure and death in dogs.

-- Give your pet healthy holiday snacks. Recipes are available on the Web or visit a pet store/bakery. Ask your veterinarian about healthy treats.

-- Anchor the holiday tree. If it topples, it can cause severe injuries to pets. Keep pets away from the tree water, as tree preservatives and sap can cause gastrointestinal problems.

-- Never leave a pet alone with a lit candle or exposed flame, and be wary of exposed extension cords.

-- Don't let pets dine on holiday plants. Poinsettia, holly, cedar, balsam, pine and mistletoe are poisonous.

-- Be careful about ornaments. Cats sometimes consume tinsel and other decorations, which can block intestines.

-- Don't go off to a holiday party and leave your pet with access to table scraps or anything that might be dangerous. If your dog gets sick while you're away, it could be a tragic holiday.

-- Don't give a pet as a holiday gift. Giving up a poorly selected new pet in January is heartbreaking.

Visit www.avma.org.