The stockings are hung and the Christmas tree is decorated, but the holiday season brings back painful memories for Sharon Lezica of Kelowna.
It was this time last year that she lost her 12-year-old dog Max.
“I still miss him and I still think of him,” Lezica said.
Last Christmas, Lezica had wrapped garland around her tree.
One evening she noticed that some of it was missing.
The culprit turned out to be Max.
“They did an x-ray and found out he had eaten the garland and all the wires were inside his stomach,” she said.
Because of the dog’s age and other health factors, the family decided that instead of a painful surgery, they would put him down.
She admits she did not think her Christmas décor would be hazardous to her dog’s health but veterinarians say you need to be careful about what you put up during the holidays.
“Our concern is with string or tinsel or any garland because what happen is it can obstruct the intestines, which can become life threatening,” said veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Watt.
“If it not discovered quickly enough, it can perforate the intestine and cause death,” she said.
Watt also warns about other festive favourites.
“Err on the side of caution and remove poinsettias, they are toxic to cats and dogs,” she said. “Pets that get into chocolate and get into turkey and fixings, we see them have digestive upsets that lead to vomiting and diarrhea.”
Meanwhile, Lexica has a new dog named Lucy.
But when the holidays come around, one thing is for certain.
“I will never put garland up on the tree,” Lezica said.
Comments