Christmas Tree Water and Pets

by Sandy Maple , Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:00AM

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Keep your pets safe this Christmas. Photo: dierken/Flickr

Pets love nothing more than stealing a sip of water from the Christmas tree stand. But pet owners should be aware of the dangers of Christmas tree water. For pet safety, experts recommend the following:

No matter how much they love it, dogs and cats should never be allowed to drink Christmas tree water. The sap leaks from the tree into the water and can make animals very sick. In addition, the preservatives that some people add to their Christmas tree water can cause illness in pets of all kinds.
Lemon-scented air freshener sprayed around the base of the tree will discourage most animals from getting close enough to drink Christmas tree water.
If you can't discourage your pet from getting under the tree, an e-collar is a great way to keep pets away from Christmas tree water. Don't put the collar on your pet -- snap it around the base of your Christmas tree so your animals cannot access the water underneath. This makes refreshing the water a bit more time-consuming, but ensuring the health of your pet is worth it.

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Alex,12-08-2009, 6:08AM

Hi everyone I found an interesting video with young Angelina Jolie!
Angelina poses nude in this video. Video is here:
Http://cli.gs/AJolietopless

Deni G,12-08-2009, 12:49PM

nobody wants to see that skinny bitch, so go peddle your website somewhere else...

Karen,12-08-2009, 9:16PM

Seen Angelina long time ago in one of the first movies she was in. 'GIA". You must excuse me, but you should GROW UP !

swanariseman,12-08-2009, 6:43AM

On pet you can put under the tree is a Pet Tickle Me Plant. The Tickle Me Plant is now kids favorite plant because the leaves fold up and the branches droop when you Tickle It. Just search the Tickle Me Plant - Cool gift.

swanariseman,12-08-2009, 6:46AM

Here is the link for the Tickle Me Plant (Http://tiny.cc/Ticklemeplant)

jbjg24m,12-08-2009, 8:32AM

use an artificial tree ! don't have to worry about this problem

mia,12-08-2009, 10:34AM

Last year our cat stuck her paw into the Christmas tree water bowl which had some preservatives in it. She licked her paw for just a second. She had instant convulsions and could not even walk. We went for emergency visit to vet. He told us she was blind and was not sure she would make it. Her system had to be flushed out, and she ended up in the clinic for three days. All ended well and she got her eye sight back. This year we bought an artificial tree. Won't ever have to experience that again! And it's cheaper than the $400 plus dollars it cost us last year.

Joyce G.,12-08-2009, 3:46PM

Thanks so much for sharing this information. Now for the fiftyith time, I can vigorously tell my 18 year olddaughter that we will not have a real tree this year [because we have a cat too]. I will share your story with her. Merry Christmas!

bob,12-18-2009, 12:01PM

the only problem with the holidays is the stupid tree. i hate the tree cus i hate decorating it. i would rather shovle snow then decorate a tree.

Deni G,12-08-2009, 12:53PM

glad to hear that your cat recovered... i never knew that christmas tree water could be so dangerous to pets... i just learned that grapes/raisins are very toxic for dogs... as are onions and chocolate! glad the word is getting out.

Me,12-09-2009, 2:28PM

I am glad your cat got better. This is why we always buy artificial trees. The only issue we have now is keeping our dog from eating the Christmas bulbs that hang low on the bottom of the tree.

jay,12-08-2009, 3:37PM

Good advice about the E-collar, would never had thought of that one myself

LBC,12-08-2009, 5:11PM

You can also blow up some balloons and place them around the bottom of the xmas tree. It only took one year for my dog to pop one, and scare the crap outta him, and now he never gets close to the tree anymore!

john,12-08-2009, 5:53PM

Would never want to see an animal harmed so I'm glad they put out that advice about the trees.

I sat here laughing for quite a while after I read your story about your dog and the balloon.

FOURDOGSLAUGHING,12-10-2009, 2:47PM

put up a childs gate in front of the tree so that the pets can't get to it

Troy,12-10-2009, 5:41PM

I don't think thats quite right. our cat drank the water from our christmas tree and out of puddles in our driveway, and she lived for 22 years.

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