Page 14 - Hobe Sound Reflections - November '22

Page 14, Hobe Sound

Tip oF THe Tail

Pet Safety For The Holiday A few other, often overlooked, dangers include The Palm City Animal Medical Center wishes you all
Season electric shock from chewing on Christmas lights or other a very happy and healthy holiday season.
electrical cords and traumatic injuries from cats climbing
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical

trees or children climbing pets. Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
Holiday festivities can get stressful. You should for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
provide a special quiet place to which your pet can retreat surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
when the excitement gets too stressful (Sometimes, you medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
may want to join him!). Family and guests are coming Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
and going, so watch out for open doors and windows to medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
prevent pets from escaping. Be sure your pet has a collar owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
with tags or a microchip. Discourage visitors from feeding www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
your pets treats; we want our pets to enjoy the holiday Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
season with us – not with vomiting and diarrhea.
cleveland clinic marTin

Pet safety is especially important during the holiday
season. We must remember our four-legged and winged
family members. Holiday festivities present situations HealTH news
which can be hazardous to your pet, so a little precaution
is necessary for making this season a happy time for
everyone. You may be surprised by what your pets can
get into during the holidays, but your veterinarian won’t Do You Need Lung Cancer
be. We have seen almost everything! Plants, gifts and Screening If You Quit
decorations are just a few of the seemingly harmless
things that can change a celebration into an emergency Smoking?
trip to the veterinarian.
If there is one rule, we should follow this time of According to the American Cancer Society, smoking
year … this is it: Anything they can swallow, they will contributes to 80 and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in
swallow! Obstructive foreign bodies are things our pets women and men, respectively.
eat that lead to partial or complete blockage of their But what if you quit smoking? Quitting has some
gastrointestinal tract. We have seen animals that have health benefits that start right away and others that can
ingested needles, fish hooks, rocks, a spoon and even lead to improved health over many years.
razor blades. These objects can get stuck anywhere from The risk of having lung cancer or other smoking-
the mouth and lips, all the way to their back end. Pay related illnesses decreases after you stop smoking and Corbin Hodder, D.O. Michael Marsh, M.D.
special attention to plastic toys, especially those with continues to decrease the longer you go without smoking,
small removable parts, strings or loose wires. Batteries though your risk will never be as low as that of someone • Lung cancer screening is not recommended if your
are caustic and potentially highly toxic. They can cause who never smoked. risk of lung cancer is low, because the harms of screening
obstructions or lead to chemical burns. Linear foreign So, if you’ve successfully kicked the habit and are may outweigh its benefits.
bodies are among the most dangerous we encounter! now a former smoker, do you still need to think about • Screening is worthwhile only if you are healthy
Strings, tinsel and ribbons can obstruct or even cut having a lung cancer screening? enough to tolerate the evaluation and treatment of any
through the intestines. Tree ornaments can result in cuts. Pulmonologists Corbin Hodder, D.O., and Michael lung nodules or lung cancers that are found.
They can be swallowed whole or contain toxic dyes or Marsh, M.D., who see patients at the Cleveland Clinic If your doctor recommends screening, look for a
chemicals. Crayons, markers and pencils are usually Martin Health Family Health Center in Stuart, offer program where experts take the time to discuss its risks
nontoxic, especially if made for children, but can result advice on this topic: and benefits with you, and are experienced in lung cancer
in vomiting or diarrhea. • Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about evaluation and treatment.
Many things can be poisonous, including plants, your risk for lung cancer. Lung cancer screening is Meanwhile, tell your doctor right away if you have
decorations and even foods that are safe for people to recommended for those meeting all the criteria for high any of these worrisome symptoms, because you may need
eat. Mistletoe is very toxic and can cause intestinal upset, risk including: testing to confirm or rule out the presence of lung cancer:
heart arrhythmias, breathing problems, seizures or a ○ Smoking the equivalent of 20 or more pack-years • A new, persistent cough or coughing up blood
coma. All of the plant, especially the berries, is poisonous. (e.g., one pack a day for 20 years; two packs a day for 10 • Unexplained shortness of breath or chest pain
Holly is moderately to very toxic, especially berries and years) • Unintentional weight loss
leaves, and results in severe vomiting and diarrhea or ○ Being 50 to 80 years old Be proactive – call (844) 811-LUNG (5864) to find out
nervous system depression. Poinsettias and all parts of ○ Smoking for any portion of the past 15 years if a low-dose CT lung cancer screening is right for you.
the Christmas tree are only mildly toxic.
Decorations are beautiful, but potentially dangerous
to our pets. Snow spray, fireplace colors (fire salts) and
angel hair (spun glass) are only slightly toxic. The fluid
in bubbling lights (methylene chloride) can be lethal if
inhaled or ingested in large amounts. Tree preservative
varies in toxicity by brand, so read the label carefully.
New tinsel is nontoxic, but in the past, it contained
poisons such as metallic cyanide. So be careful if your
decorations have been passed down from relatives.
Chocolate isn’t just dangerous to our waistline; it is
dangerous to our pets. The danger varies with the type of
chocolate. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate is the worst,
then milk chocolate, and white chocolate is the least.
Toxicity can range from an upset stomach to neurologic
signs such as tremors to coma and even death. Coffee
contains caffeine and theobromine which is harmful to
pets and can cause acceleration of heart rate and breathing
or even seizures. Bread dough and other yeast products
can produce alcohol and cause intoxication. Dough
can also block the intestinal tract or cause bloating.
Macadamia nuts can cause increased body temperature,
muscle stiffness, increased heart rate and tremors. Pets
seem to be attracted to alcohol, so don’t leave drinks
unattended. It is no joke to get a pet drunk; and serious
intoxications have occurred. Small amounts of antifreeze
can be fatal. Potpourri/potpourri oil can cause severe
burns and ingestion can affect the nervous system.

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