The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. But the merrymaking could put your pet in harm’s way. Many of the decorations, foods and festivities we associate with the holidays could cause big problems for your pet, putting them at risk for everything from indigestion to death.
Here are their tips for keeping your pets safe this holiday season.
Humans often use the holidays as an excuse to indulge in rich, fattening foods. But you’re not doing your pets any favors by sharing your favorite treats with them.
These rich foods can result in pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Dogs have a sweet tooth and amazing noses! If that combination leads them to a plate of brownies or a box of holiday chocolates, they can develop seizures, tremors and diarrhea.
If that same sweet tooth leads dogs to a bag of grapes or raisins, the situation can turn dire. These items can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Sugar-Free Candies and Pastries
Another potentially dangerous treat is sugar free pastries and candies. These often contain the sugar substitute xylitol. In dogs this can cause insulin problems, leading to low blood sugar and liver failure.
While dogs might enjoy a nice big bone to chew on, cooked meat bones can actually splinter and cause blockage or lacerations in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s best to throw that leftover turkey or chicken bone in the trash and stick to pet-safe bones from a trusted manufacturer.
Onions and Garlic
On the savory side, onions and garlic can affect red blood cells and cause anemia.
Keep all forms—raw, cooked, chopped, or powdered—out of your pet’s reach and call your vet right away if you suspect your pet has ingested onions or garlic.
Pets should never be given alcohol, it depresses the nervous system. Dogs and cats can get drunk just like people,leading to dangerously low blood pressure and comas.
Mixed drinks can be especially problematic, they’re stronger than beer and wine, and many holiday drinks are made with a dairy base (think White Russians and eggnog), which dogs and cats love.
Most holiday plants, such as poinsettia, can cause mild oral irritation and gastrointestinal distress. Symptoms of irritation from poinsettias, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, include drooling, licking lips, vomiting and diarrhea. Though it’s best to keep this holiday plant away from pets, medical treatment is rarely necessary for pets that ingest poinsettias.
Other plants are are far more dangerous. Certain types of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, and vomiting, diarrhea and coma in dogs. The lily varieties that are especially dangerous to pets include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show.
If ingested, holly plants can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs. Injuries from their spiny leaves can also cause excessive drooling, lip smacking and headshaking.
While you might want to hang up the mistletoe and encourage unsuspecting human couples to kiss under the holiday plants, this popular Christmas decoration should be kept away from pets. If ingested, the plant can cause stomach problems. Large amounts may lead to hypotension, seizures and even death.
Whether you’re lighting a menorah, adding ambiance to your dinner setting, or placing candles in the window, be sure to keep pets far away from open flames.
Hanukkah is the festival of lights, but make sure your pet cannot come into contact with a lit menorah. We don’t want anyone knocking the table over or setting their tails on fire.
Whether your tree is real or fake, make sure it’s properly secured and has some sort of barrier to deter cats from going for a climb. In addition to ruining your decorating work, cats could injure themselves if they climb trees.
If your tree is real, don’t let cats or dogs drink from the water reservoir, especially if you use a fertilizer. Drinking stagnant water, with or without additives, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Ornaments and Snow Globes
Glass ornaments can break, cutting pets’ paws or faces. If ingested they can also cause internal lacerations. Snow globes and bubble-shaped holiday lights may also contain poisonous chemicals such as ethylene glycol, which can cause kidney failure in pets.
Tinsel is one of the most dangerous items that we can put on the tree, it’s made from plastic or metal, which can cut through a curious cat’s digestive tract, so it’s best to skip this shiny tree-topper. Strings of popcorn or cranberries, as well as ribbons on presents, can cause similar problems for pets.
If chewed, live electrical cords can cause oral burns, seizures and even death! Make sure to keep holiday lighting unplugged and out of reach when pets are unsupervised!
Purses can be one of the most dangerous things in the house for pets, they can contain items like medications, sugar free gum, and over the counter pain meds, all of which can be bad news for pets.
Ask guests not to leave bags or purses on the floor. If they’re staying the night, keep the guest room door closed so pets don’t get into their suitcases.
Having lots of people in the home can also be stressful for dogs and cats, give them a safe and quiet place to relax.
There’s also the danger indoor pets can get loose if the front or back door is left open. Make sure your pets have collars or microchips.
Heaters and Warming Devices
Space heaters, heated blankets and other warming devices could cause trouble if your pet knocks them over, tangles the cords or moves them from their original position. Never use kerosene heaters indoors, these could pose a carbon monoxide risk, potentially poisoning you and your pets.
Another heating hazard is the fireplace. Be careful with fire logs, for some reason dogs love to chew on these. They’re not poisonous but they could cause an obstruction in the dog’s digestive tract.
Also be sure to clean the ashes out of the fireplace. They’re very alkaline, and could cause burns if ingested.
Whether you’re getting the house ready for holiday guests or cleaning up after them, keep pets far away from cleaning supplies that contain chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and chlorine.
Even all-natural products can cause stomach irritation. Keep your pets in a separate area until all recently-cleaned surfaces are dry.
While there have been many innovations in making rock salt safer for pets, the reality is not all municipalities have made the switch. Protect your pets’ paws with doggie shoes, or wash their feet thoroughly after each winter walk. Rock salts can cause stomach upset or potentially electrolyte problems.
There have also been moves to make antifreeze less appealing to pets by adding a bittering agent that discourages them from lapping it up off the driveway floor. But it’s not a foolproof solution.
Always clean up antifreeze spills thoroughly and call your vet if you suspect your pet has ingested even a drop. Antifreeze can cause kidney failure and death!
35% off microchipping in December!!
To allow our staff to celebrate the holidays with their families,
the following adjusted clinic hours will be:
Closed December 23, 24, & 25
Closed Dec. 30, 31 & Jan. 1
~At Heart Arrow We Love Pets~
Thanks to PETMD for portions of this article