Santa's World Site - Safety Tips

The Best Advice on Childrens Products
by http://www.drtoy.com/

Dr. Toy provides children, parents, teachers, grandparents and other adults with important year-round information about the Dr. Toy award winning products. These include toys, dolls, games, puzzles, books, software, CD-ROMs, audio and video discs and tapes, creative materials, construction toys, and much more. New products and interesting items are introduced regularly.

This is the first site posted on the Net providing the latest information on the best toys and most educational products, plus articles, resources, and many toy-related links. Take your time, bookmark this site, and return often. Over 1,500 toys and children's products have been selected for awards presented by Dr. Toy. These products are described with color photos, and customer service numbers. This award - winning site is a free public service provided by The Institute for Childhood Resources, a not-for-profit organization.

Pet proofing your home for the Holidays
by http://www.petco.com/

The bright colors and intoxicating scents of the holiday season are enough to transform any moping mutt or cranky cat from melancholy to jolly. Unfortunately, many of the delights and decorations of the holidays often pose significant health risks to your pets.

As our schedules and environments change during the holidays, many pets react with curiosity by exploring new objects with their mouths. PETCO suggests the following safety tips on keeping them safe and healthy for many more holidays to come.

Christmas Tree
Pine needles can get lodged in an animal's esophagus, making it painfully prickly for your pet to swallow, but even drinking the water from the Christmas tree base is enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting and distract your pet from tree temptations with holiday toys and treats.

Deck the Halls
During the holidays, a branch of fresh mistletoe may be a symbol of love, but to your curious cat or canine, temptingly red berries look more like a sweet treat. Eating the leaves and berries could cause a drop in blood pressure and decreased heartbeat. Ivy can cause diarrhea, convulsions, and in some cases even death when eaten in large quantities. Holly, poinsettias and yew are other poisonous plants to keep away from prying pets.

Tinsel and Lights
Pets are intrigued with a flickering flame and shiny decorations. When lighting the menorah, advent wreath or decorative candles, keep pets in another room where paws and claws can't reach them. With electrical lights, remember to tape exposed electrical cords to walls or floor to ensure no chewing or tripping. Tinsel and giftwrap may look like fun toys, but they can cause choking or even an upset stomach.

Visions of SugarPlums
Dogs may love to sniff your holiday goodies but theobromine, an active ingredient found in chocolate, could have a highly toxic effect. Avoid offering chocolate as a treat. If your dog develops a sweet tooth and discovers an improperly stored stash, it could lead to a fatal feast for your Fido. Keep dogs' jaws busy with holiday rawhide candy canes and oversized bones such as those found at PETCO. If he or she show signs of illness such as vomiting, loss of appetite or excessive water intake, contact your veterinarian immediately. Remember that proper nutrition and plenty of fresh, unfrozen water is essential to your pet's winter health.

Let It Snow
Pets, especially very young and older animals, can suffer stress, frostbite and hypothermia when their body temperature drops just a few degrees below normal. The tips of the ears, the feet and the tail are common areas to be affected. Watch for the formation of ice balls between your pet's toes, and regularly trim the long hair between the footpads to avoid frostbitten feet. If you suspect frostbite, do not rub the area but simply apply warm moist packs and contact your veterinarian.

Antifreeze Alert
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which causes rapid and permanent kidney damage to your pet if it ingests even a very small amount. It takes only 6 milliliters of antifreeze to kill an average-sized cat. A cat can walk through an antifreeze puddle and ingest it while cleaning its paws. For a dog, it takes only 60 milliliters of antifreeze to kill a 30-pound pup. A dog could ingest this much with a few laps out of an open container or from a puddle on the garage floor.

I'll Be Home for Christmas
A proper shelter can be a lifesaver for a chilly dog or freezing feline. When selecting a doghouse, the space should only be as large as necessary for the dog to maneuver comfortably since the dog's own body heat will serve as a heater. Remember, you'll have one chilled Chihuahua if he is hanging out in a Doberman-sized doghouse. Wooden doghouses work well, but should be raised slightly off the ground to prevent the wood from becoming soaked since a wet pet will be miserable. The wooden doghouses sold by PETCO have an offset door that protects your pet from winter drafts. For outdoor cats, a barn or outbuilding with a Johnson pet door should help keep your kitty comfy when wind-chills drop.