Page 6 - Hobe Sound Reflections - December '19

Page 6, Hobe Sound

TiP of THe TaiL

Pet Safety For The Holiday pets. Snow spray, fireplace colors (fire salts) and Angel Hair shock from chewing on Christmas lights or other electrical
Decorations are beautiful, but potentially dangerous to our
A few other, often overlooked, dangers include electric
Season (spun glass) are only slightly toxic. The fluid in bubbling lights cords and traumatic injuries from cats climbing trees or
(methylene chloride) can be lethal if inhaled or ingested in large children climbing pets.
amounts. Tree preservative varies in toxicity by brand, so read Holiday festivities can get stressful. You should provide
the label carefully. New tinsel is non-toxic, but in the past, it a special quiet place to which your pet can retreat when the
contained poisons such as metallic cyanide. So be careful if excitement gets too stressful (Sometimes, you may want
your decorations have been passed down from relatives. to join him!). Family and guests are coming and going,
Chocolate isn’t just dangerous to our waistline; it is dangerous so watch out for open doors and windows to prevent pets
to our pets. The danger varies with the type of chocolate. from escaping. Be sure your pet has a collar with tags or a
Unsweetened baker’s chocolate is the worst, then milk chocolate, microchip. Discourage visitors from feeding your pets treats;
and white chocolate is the least. Toxicity can range from an we want our pets to enjoy the holiday season with us – not
upset stomach to neurologic signs such as tremors to coma and with vomiting and diarrhea.
even death. Coffee contains caffeine and theobromine which The Palm City Animal Medical Center wishes you all a
is harmful to pets and can cause acceleration of heart rate and very happy and healthy holiday season.
breathing or even seizures. Bread dough and other yeast products Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center is
can produce alcohol and cause intoxication. Dough can also dedicated to providing the best possible care for your pets. With
block the intestinal tract or cause bloating. Macadamia nuts can focuses on compassionate care in surgery, physical therapy and
Pet safety is especially important during the holiday cause increased body temperature, muscle stiffness, increased rehabilitation, preventative medicine, extensive diagnostics,
season. We must remember our four-legged and winged family heart rate and tremors. Pets seem to be attracted to alcohol, so and emergency service, Palm City Animal Medical Center
members. Holiday festivities present situations which can be don’t leave drinks unattended. It is no joke to get a pet drunk; and combines exceptional medical care with a caring philosophy
hazardous to your pet, so a little precaution is necessary for serious intoxications have occurred. Small amounts of antifreeze for pets and their owners. For more information, call (772)
making this season a happy time for everyone. You may be can be fatal. Potpourri/potpourri oil can cause severe burns and 283-0920, visit www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find
surprised by what your pets can get into during the holidays, but ingestion can affect the nervous system. us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
your veterinarian won’t be. We have seen almost everything!
Plants, gifts and decorations are just a few of the seemingly esTaTe PLanning
harmless things that can change a celebration into an emergency
trip to the veterinarian.
If there is one rule, we should follow this time of year … this
is it: Anything they can swallow, they will swallow! Obstructive Plan Your Estate To Help lump sum inheritance would be blown in no time at all.
foreign bodies are things our pets eat that lead to partial or Instead of leaving money outright to the financially
complete blockage of their gastrointestinal tract. We have seen Financially Strapped Child challenged child, consider a trust.
animals that have ingested needles, fish hooks, rocks, a spoon Trusts are not just for the super-rich. There are expenses to
and even razor blades. These objects can get stuck anywhere By Carrie Lavargna set up and manage the trust, but such costs pale in comparison
from the mouth and lips, all the way to their back end. Pay Parents worry about their to the money wasted by a free-spending child.
special attention to plastic toys, especially those with small children and it doesn’t stop There are three parties to a trust. First, the grantor creates
removable parts, strings or loose wires. Batteries are caustic when they grow up. My dad the trust and decides when, how and to whom funds are to be
and potentially highly toxic. They can cause obstructions or used to say that as I got older disbursed. Second, the trustee manages the assets and makes
lead to chemical burns. Linear foreign bodies are among the he still worried about me, it payments to the beneficiaries, who are the third party.
most dangerous we encounter! Strings, tinsel and ribbons can only cost him more. Probably Trust assets may be disbursed every month or year. They
obstruct or even cut through the intestines. Tree ornaments can some truth in that. may be focused on providing health care and living expenses.
result in cuts. They can be swallowed whole or contain toxic Many parents have seen Disbursements may also be distributed in installments so that
dyes or chemicals. Crayons, markers and pencils are usually their adult children work hard the financially challenged child can learn to manage money
non-toxic, especially if made for children, but can result in and not find the financial before receiving the next check.
vomiting or diarrhea. success that they themselves If the child has a drug or alcohol problem, you may choose
Many things can be poisonous, including plants, decorations had. There are fewer jobs with pensions, and many young against interval payments and withhold assets until the problem
and even foods that are safe for people to eat. Mistletoe is very families barely make ends meet, are challenged by the cost of is corrected. In the trust document you can create a wait-and-see
toxic and can cause intestinal upset, heart arrhythmias, breathing college education for their children and frankly, don’t have the provision by giving the trustee flexibility to distribute the assets
problems, seizures or a coma. All of the plant, especially discipline to save for retirement. to the beneficiary when behavior changes. You can instruct
the berries, is poisonous. Holly is moderately to very toxic, Seniors are often financially helping out their adult children. the trustee to cover the cost of housing, health insurance and
especially berries and leaves, and results in severe vomiting So, how should parents prepare their estate plan to help the food directly. The trust document can specify standards to be
and diarrhea or nervous system depression. Poinsettias and all cash strapped adult child? met before the trust funds are distributed, such as requiring
parts of the Christmas tree are only mildly toxic. Consider how this financial mess happened. Were the the beneficiary to pass drug or alcohol testing or participate in
circumstances out of the child’s control? Does your adult child rehabilitation programs.
make poor money decisions or have a hard time keeping a job? Who should be the trustee? You can choose a family member,
Was there a failed marriage or is this child subject to strong possibly another child, but consider that when one child holds
influence of a spouse? Are there substance abuse problems? Or the purse strings for another, stress and conflict arise.
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing did this child simply never save a dime and is now middle-aged These are hard issues to discuss, but you should feel free to
Palm Beach County and is a privately with no retirement plan. talk openly with your estate planning attorney. Work through
owned and managed company. You have a right to be worried about the situation. Asking these issues and plan appropriately. Making no decision may
Captain’s is committed to providing these questions is not judging but trying to get to the root of be the worst one.
dependable, reliable and professional the problem to plan a solution. This family member may have This is an overview of the subject matter and not intended
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 wonderful personal attributes and be a loving, caring person. as legal advice. Carrie Lavargna is an attorney practicing law
To reserve your vehicle: However, the child’s lack of money or lack of money sense in Stuart, Florida. She is board certified in real estate law by
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com should be considered when planning your estate. You may want the Florida Supreme Court and focuses her practice primarily
to provide assistance for your child’s retirement and fear that a in estate planning and real estate matters.