CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The holiday season is a fun time for families, but it can be a hazardous time for cats and dogs.
Veterinarians said the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's is one of the busiest time for clinics in Chicago and across the country.
"This time between Thanksgiving and around New Year's is actually one of the busiest times both at West Loop Veterinary Care, as well as the hospitals at large right now," because pets are attracted to new things like christmas decorations, said Dr. Micah Tryba, an associate veterinarian at West Loop Veterinary Care in Chicago.
Big, fatty meals, piles of candy, and all sorts of Christmas lights, ornaments, and decorations can all be a problem if consumed by your pet. Fatty foods and candy can cause stomach problems, while eating decorations could lead to electrical burns and intestinal blockage.
"This time of year we have a lot of things in our homes that aren't usually there, between Christmas trees, ornaments, different electric cords lying around..they are shiny and they are new and they are exciting. Pets will consume them, and I don't know about you, but eating a broken ornament is not something that I would prefer to do."
She offered a couple safety suggestions, including that pet owners should make every effort to hide electrical cords.
"If a pet bites down into one of those, that could be an electric burn to the inside of the mouth. It could be an emergency as well," Dr. Tryba said.
Dr. Tryba added that Christmas trees could also pose hazards to pets.
"Pine needles are a problem to pets if consumed, as well as the water that the tree sits in. If a pet drinks enough of that water, it can cause quite a bit of stomach upset and other health problems for pets," Dr. Tryba said.
And for those with cats, Dr. Tryba said there is one particular type of flower can be especially hazardous: lillies.
"Lillies are extremely toxic, especially in the case of cats. I would just avoid lillies entirely if you're a cat owner," Dr. Tryba said.
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