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Potpourri Oil Hazardous to Cats

In a recent article published in the December 1999 issue of Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Jill Richardson of the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center, potpourri oil has been named as hazardous to cats. One of the two primary ingredients is essential oils, which can cause irritation to mucous membranes and the digestive tract, central nervous system depression, and skin hypersensitivity and irritation. The other ingredient, called cationic detergent can cause mucosal ulceration and bleeding, swelling of the tissues, intense pain, and ulceration. Exposure of the eyes to a cationic detergent can result in mild irritation or severe corneal ulcerations. Ingesting cationic detergents can result in inflammation of the mouth, tongue, the throat and can even cause tissue death in these areas. Vomiting, hypotension, fluid in the lungs, increased salivation, depression, difficulty breathing, and other signs. Treatment is prolonged and can be very expensive, not to mention painful.

Plants
Here is a list of plants that are often displayed during the holiday season that may be toxic to your pets. Please keep them out of reach of children and pets!

Foods:

Chocolate (especially baking chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate) can be toxic to pets. Chocolate in the form of boxed chocolates, candy bars, baked goods, etc, if eaten in large amounts can also be toxic.

Peanuts-some animals can have allergic reactions to peanuts and products (candies) containing peanuts.

Small bones, such as those from turkey, t-bones, fish, etc. should never be fed to an animal as these bones can break off and cut up the insides of the digestive tract or cause an obstruction.

Bread dough can swell up in the stomach and create a blockage requiring emergency surgery.

Moldy or old food can have fungal toxins present. Do not feed these to ur pets.

Other Dangers:

Alcoholic Beverages can pose a health risk, even death from ingesting alcoholic beverages. Keep all glasses and left over beverages dumped out and picked up and put away.

Firecrackers and Other Noise Makers may make normal pets feel very afraid and nervous. Pets should be kept indoors during holiday celebrations that might include the use of fireworks or other loud noises to decrease the risk of running away or hurting themselves trying to get away.

Strings, tinsel, rubberbands, ribbons, and other linear objects can be ingested and cause life-threatening obstructions in the digestive tract.