Elizabeth
I always enjoy speaking with fellow animal lovers, so please feel free to contact me: Elizabeth Henderson with any questions or comments that you might have.
Photo by Megan Stevens: Minnie the Dreamer
Photo by Jessi Bruton
My Christmas Doggies
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Hello and welcome!
This Month's Topic: Holiday Pet Safety
By Elizabeth Henderson
The holidays are just around the corner and should be fun and safe for everyone, pets included. Most of us love festively wrapped packages, delicious holiday foods, and twinkling lights. While these things are great, it’s important to remember that even fun things can cause problems if not handled properly. Some common sense and a few safety tips can help keep your pets safely enjoying the holidays at home and out of the emergency vet’s office this holiday season.
Poisonous Plants
Decorating with plants for the holidays can be great fun, but it’s important to remember that some plants are both beautiful and poisonous and should be kept away from curious pets. Poinsettas are a colorful holiday favorite, but can cause blistering in the mouth and stomach pain when eaten. Holly, both the leaves and berries, is toxic to both dogs and cats when eaten, causing stomach upset and, if enough is consumed, death. Mistletoe may be great for getting extra holiday smooches, but it can cause stomach upset and heart failure when eaten. The needles from a Christmas tree can be toxic as well. Amaryllis are popular indoor flowers during the holidays, but are toxic to cats and dogs.
Christmas Trees
My hands down favorite holiday decoration is the Christmas tree. I love the beautiful lights and carefully crafted ornaments. To help keep your tree pet safe, place the tree in a stable stand and consider securing it to a wall or ceiling with fishing line for added stability. Food based tree decorations, like candy canes and popcorn garlands, can be fun for kids, but they are equally enticing to pets. Tinsel can cause intestinal blockages if eaten. Colorful glass bulb ornaments are a popular choice, but look very similar to the ball your four legged friend likes to chase and can cause serious injury to the mouth if chewed on. Electrical cords are also a hazard as curious pets will sometimes chew on them, resulting in a painful, or even deadly, electrical shock. Shiny packages under the tree, particularly those with food gifts in them, are very attractive to pets and are best placed out of reach. Many gifts require batteries. It is important to keep these away from your pet as they are potentially poisonous and definitely a choking hazard. It is important to water your tree, but it is also important to keep your pets from drinking this water. The water sitting in your tree stand may grow harmful bacteria and can even contain pesticides or fertilizers that were used on the tree before it was cut. Many people find products like scat mats placed around the tree and bitter apple sprayed on cords to be helpful. While there are things you can do to help make your tree safer for pets, the best thing to do is to supervise your pet and not allow them free access to the tree and its decorations.
Gift Wrapping and Decorations
Beautifully wrapped packages are a holiday favorite, but the colorful ribbons and shiny paper can be attractive to curious pets as well. If swallowed, those beautiful ribbons can cause intestinal blockages requiring surgery. Some adhesives and glues used in package wrapping can be toxic to pets if ingested. Potpourri can help bring festive smells into a house, but pets may also be attracted by the smell; the oils in potpourri can be toxic if eaten. Many people burn candles in their homes during the holidays. The warm glow of candles is inviting, but make sure to keep them well away from pets to avoid the danger of a burnt nose or possible house fire.
Holiday Foods
Most of us look forward to holiday foods. While an extra helping at a holiday dinner probably won’t cause you any long term problems, pets can be harmed by tasty holiday treats. Chocolate, coffee, and tea all contain potentially deadly xanthines and should not be fed to pets. Tobacco products are a potential danger as well and should be kept away from pets. This includes the popular nicotine gums that many people chew. Make sure to empty ashtrays at parties frequently, as cigarette butts contain as much as 25% of the nicotine in a cigarette. Alcohol can cause dangerous intoxication in pets, particularly in drinks like eggnog that are sweetened and appealing to them. Do not allow your pets to consume alcohol, even if they seem to enjoy it. Fatty foods like gravy should be avoided as they may cause stomach upset and even more serious conditions like pancreatitis, which may require hospitalization. Bones from fish, meat, and poultry can be dangerous and, when ingested, may require surgery. Grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts all contain unknown toxins that can be harmful to pets. Grapes and raisins can damage the kidneys, while macadamia nuts are harmful to the digestive and nervous systems of dogs. Try to keep all garbage safely contained and away from pets. Foil or plastic wrap with meat drippings and the string from roasts all smell like food to your pets and may cause intestinal blockages or choking if ingested.
Keep in mind that dogs and cats have a tendency to quickly consume foods they find tasty. This makes it much easier for them to consume too much of potentially dangerous things like fatty foods, sweetened alcoholic beverages, and chocolate in a surprisingly short period of time. Also, it is a good idea to ask guests not to feed your pets any treats as they may accidentally feed your pet something unsafe.
Holiday Stress
With all the activity and new sights, sounds, smells, and people, the holidays can be a stressful time. This is true for pets as well. If your pet becomes overly excited when you have holiday get-togethers, consider providing your pet with a quiet room to allow them time to relax and calm down away from the noise and excitement. You may also want to consult with your veterinarian on how to help your pet relax if a little quiet time is not enough. Also, keep in mind that boarding kennels tend to fill up quickly around the holidays so try to make reservations early whenever possible.
With just a little planning ahead and care, the holidays can be fun and safe for all the members of your family.
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