Keeping Pets Safe During the Holidays

Plants and Decorations:

Christmas Tree – “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, keep pets out of your branches”. A lovely spot for our cats to hide. If not properly secured it can tumble down and not only break baby’s first Christmas ornament, but also potentially harm your pet. Anchor and tie the tree to keep it standing tall for all to admire.

 Garland and Tinsel – This sparkly furry looking decoration can be tempting to pets. They may mistake it for a wand or a treat and nibble on it! But nibbles can turn to swallows which can cause some serious internal health issues for our feline friends. Do your best to keep these away from the curious cats.

Holly, Flowers and Mistletoe – Holly can cause pets to suffer from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when ingested.  Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Lilies and Poinsettias can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. If you have these in your home at the holidays, keep them far away from your pets.

Candles and Wires – Be mindful when leaving candles unattended. Curious pets will investigate this new item with their nose or even mouth, resulting in detrimental injuries. The same goes for wires from holiday lights. Keep these out of reach from pets who may think the wires are meant for chewing.

Food:

Candy is not for pets – Chocolate as you know is toxic to both dogs and cats. Many of the gummy candy contain xylitol which is also toxic to pets. Save the candy for the Jolly old guy and give your pets safe treats created just for them.

Leftovers – Many of the food we enjoy at the holidays is fatty, spicy and dangerous to pets. It is best to keep the leftovers in the fridge and give your pet a safe treat from their stocking. Giving your pet leftover ‘Human Food’ can cause pancreatitis, which if not treated immediately can be fatal. If your pet accidentally ingests a food that isn’t intended for pets, please contact your vet as soon as possible.

Guests:

Create a calm space, away from chaos – Your pet may be delighted with the extra attention from new faces. However some pets can get overwhelmed by the excitement. Make sure you create a safe space for your pet to have some alone time, away from that crazy aunt.

Double/Triple Check the Microchip – Just in case your pets does find themselves running out of the house, be sure they are microchipped and that the information on file is up to date. Microchipping your pet helps shelters reunite lost pets with their owners faster.