TERRE HAUTE — The holiday season is fast approaching and with it comes potential hazards for your pet. The excitement of the activities and the smells and tastes of the foods this time of year may intrigue your pet. Even though this is a busy time of year, take care to remember to be extra vigilant regarding your pet’s activities.
Items that can make your pet sick are ribbons, wrapping paper, ornaments, tinsel, extension cords and gifts. Kitties are particularly fascinated with shiny strands of tinsel, which can be deadly. The ingestion of tinsel or other string-like items (often called linear foreign bodies) can cause serious damage to the intestines. A pet with foreign bodies can become ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, depression, belly pain, and frequently, fever.
Holiday lighting attracts pets. Electrical shock could occur from pets chewing on the cords. Check cords for bite marks, loose or frayed wires, or evidence of short circuits. Use three-prong grounded extension cords and follow manufacturers’ recommendations for usage. Electrical shock can cause burns, labored breathing, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of consciousness and death. If your pet has been injured by electrical shock, call your veterinarian.
Pets are usually interested in new sources of water such as the toilet or the Christmas tree stand. Be careful when adding chemicals meant to keep your tree fresh longer. Read the label and make sure it is “pet safe.” Another attraction for your pets is potpourri; make sure the pots are covered or inaccessible to pets.
The holiday season is about sharing with family and friends, but sharing holiday foods with your pet can cause an upset stomach, or worse, pancreatitis. In order to control the excessive food intake by your pets, set aside a plate of treats for your pets and let your guests “treat” the pets. To make it more festive, mix some of your pet’s regular food with water and make dough that you roll out and cut into shapes. Bake them until crunchy. Give your pets some “personal space” to get away from the commotion in a bedroom or den. Sometimes pets will respond to a lot of hubbub by eliminating on the floor.
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without chocolate! But keep in mind that chocolate can be toxic or even fatal to cats and dogs. Chocolate poisoning occurs most commonly in dogs but others are also susceptible. Theobromine is the toxic compound found in chocolate. Symptoms that can appear within 1 to 4 hours include vomiting, increased thirst, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty with balance, hyperexcitability, muscle spasms, seizures, coma or death. If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate, call your veterinarian. Typically, the treatment for poisoning is the most effective if begun soon after eating the poison and before large amounts have been absorbed into the blood.
Mistletoe can be very toxic to your pet. Call your veterinarian immediately if your pet has ingested any part of the plant. Mistletoe can cause vomiting, severe diarrhea, difficult breathing, shock and death within hours of ingestion. Various species of holly berries and leaves can cause vomiting, belly pain and diarrhea.
An adorable puppy or kitten may seem like the perfect Christmas gift, but unfortunately after the holiday season, animal shelters explode with these “surprise gifts.” Owning a pet is a lifelong commitment that not everyone can make. Please give careful consideration when deciding on that new pet.
Rona
Breed: Chow Chow mix
Size: Medium
Age: Adult
Sex: Female
This place is a lot bigger and busier than I ever imagined. Hi, I’m Rona. I’m a short, full-grown 2-year-old trying to figure out why so many dogs end up here like me. I’m cute, fun, lightweight (37 pounds), easy to take on trips and most definitely deserving of a good home. I see lots of people walk by but no one seems to be looking all the way down here where I’m standing. I may have to start barking for attention … but that’s really not my style. Well, for now, I’ll just keep to myself and hope someone comes looking for me soon. I’m here … waiting for my rescuer to come find me.
Valley Life
PAW PRINTS: Beware of health hazards involving your pets during the holidays
- Valley Life
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Terre Haute museums keeping history alive
Even if you don’t have a mystical Egyptian tablet that brings museum inhabitants to life at sunset like character Larry Daley in the “Night in the Museum” movies, history can come alive for you, your friends and family at the many museums in the Wabash Valley.
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ANNIVERSARIES: Feb. 12, 2012
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Learn brief history of Social Security at Brown Bag
Join Amy Long, Social Security operations supervisor, for a brief history of Social Security, including why and how Social Security was created, changes over the years and information on the future at 12:10 p.m. Thursday at the Vigo County Public Library for a Brown Bag.
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Terre Haute’s litter leads to trashy look, feast for crows
Dear My Fellow Hoosiers,
Why do you litter? When I moved here in April 2007 there were two things that I noticed right away about the Wabash Valley. -
PAW PRINTS: Enjoy a pet-friendly Valentine’s Day
Every year, the poison control experts see a rise in pet cases around Feb. 14, with many involving chocolate and lilies (a flower that is potentially fatal to cats).
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Greene’s Goose Pond offers Marsh Madness, March 2-4
Special to the Tribune-StarWildlife Area’s annual Marsh Madness bird festival takes place March 2-4 at multiple locations around Greene County.
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WEDDINGS: Feb. 12, 2012
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ENGAGEMENTS: Feb. 12, 2012
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VIDEO: On the Banks of the Wabash far away …
Paul Dresser left Terre Haute a niche in history.
Opportunism, squabbling and fading memories gradually washed that gift away, like the unending flow of the Wabash River he immortalized in song.
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Vectren cautions public about snow, ice removal
Vectren Energy Delivery wants to remind customers to proceed with caution when removing snow and ice around natural gas meters at their homes or businesses this winter.
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Workshop to emphasize basics of alpaca farming
A one-day seminar on the fundamentals of alpaca farming is planned for Saturday at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
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Genealogy Society offers free forum
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society is offering a free educational forum titled “Brick Wall Hurdling” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in rooms A, B and C of the Vigo County Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
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PAW PRINTS: Want to adopt a pit bull? Here are some helpful hints
Despite the bad publicity, pit bulls can be very lovable and loyal family dogs. There is a great deal of confusion associated with the label “pit bull.” The most accurate definition refers to two breeds: the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier. Some people include other breeds in this group because they share similar head shapes and body types.
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Purdue Extension to offer diabetes cooking school
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service-Parke County is offering a diabetes cooking school starting Feb. 27.
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Pepsi Community Caps Program to benefit charities
Refreshment Services-Pepsi will kick off its 2012 Community Caps Program on March 1. The Community Caps Program will benefit several charitable organizations and schools in Clay, Parke, Vermillion and Vigo counties in Indiana and Edgar County in Illinois.
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Serve as 4-H judge, volunteer
The 2012 4-H Bi-State Judges and Leaders Clinic will be Feb. 18 at Ivy Tech Community College’s Main Campus, at 8000 S. Education Drive.
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BRIDGE COLUMN : Feb. 5, 2012
With January now history we can report new faces in both master point races, male and female.
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Tried 'n' True: Upside Down Pizza calls for crescent rolls
When our boys were young, we went every Sunday evening for pizza in Charleston, Ill. When they got to be older and they were working on the farm, I would make pizza from scratch.
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Extension to offer basic food preservation workshops
Purdue University Extension will be offering basic food preservation workshops at Clabber Girl Culinary Classroom in Terre Haute. Two sessions will offer different methods.
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GRAPE SENSE: Trips open my eyes to new wines in new regions
The wine industry spends a lot of money worldwide to promote brands, regions, and wine tourism. One of the many ways the wine industry invests is press trips.
Depending on when you read this column, I’m either in France or just returned from a press trip.
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Clay Habitat plans open house
Habitat for Humanity of Clay County will stage the dedication ceremony and open house for the Mary Ann Hofmann family home from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 12 at 518 E. Ridge St. in Brazil.
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Born to perform: Terre Haute South senior to sing in Carnegie Hall
Soon, the domed ceiling of Carnegie Hall and the archway in the Hayes family kitchen will share a special connection.
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8th District Rep. Bucshon visits CASA volunteers
The U.S Representative of the 8th Congressional District, Larry Bucshon met with CASA volunteers earlier this month to learn more about the Vigo County Court Appointed Special Advocates.
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Paw Prints: Animal protection law ranking hits home
The Humane Society of the United States released the 2011 “Humane State Ranking” of all 50 states and Washington D.C.
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Tried 'n' True: Here's a recipe for all you chocolate lovers
This recipe is for all you chocolate lovers.
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Soybean farmers build state fair building
Since 98 percent of Americans no longer live on farms, Indiana soybean farmers are going to bring the farm to the public in a new exhibit building at the 2012 Indiana State Fair.
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Sign up now for Rockville Public Library’s ebook class
Rockville Public Library will have free demonstrations on how to use ebook readers with its downloadable ebook service, Overdrive.
- Weddings, Anniversaries: Jan. 29, 2012
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Sullivan Foundation looking for Volunteer of Year
The Sullivan County Community Foundation is currently seeking nominations for its “Volunteer of the Year” award to be announced March 29.
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