The last thing any pet owner wants to do this holiday season is rush to the animal emergency clinic. Since the holidays often pose many unexpected pet health issues, veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM offers a few tips to help ensure your pets safety this season, so your holiday doesn’t end in disaster.

During the holidays, the majority of pet emergencies are due to pets eating something inappropriate. Certain foods cause upset stomachs, others are poisonous, and some can be life-threatening.

Since about 60% of pet lovers share holiday meals with their 4-footed family friends here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind.

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Chagrin Falls, Ohio – October 28, 2008 – SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at 15 US Wal-Mart locations, made by Mars Pet Care was recalled yesterday due to potential contamination with Salmonella.

Wal-Mart locations involved include stores located in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The tainted cat food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating potential contamination with the highly contagious bacteria called Salmonella.

The tainted cat food should not be sold or fed to cats. Cat owners should dispose of the contaminted food carefully. Wear gloves to avoid touching the food and dispose of it in a securely covered trash receptacle, then return the empty bag to the store where it was bought for a refund.

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