Holiday Pet Hazards
The holidays are among us, everyone is busy shopping, baking, and preparing for celebrations. But whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday, there are many things you need to be careful with when it comes to your pet.
For starters, Holiday Decorations. Christmas trees, tinsel, lights, lit candles, ribbon, etc. are all very tempting to your pet. Chewing on electrical cords or lights can cause burns, lit candles can cause burns and are a potential fire hazard. Tinsel and ribbons can be viewed as a fun toy, but if ingested, it can cause intestinal blockages causing your pet to need surgery. It is best to keep all decorations away from your pets to ensure their safety.
Another staple of the holidays are festive plants. But most of these plants such as Poinsettias, Holly, Amaryllis, and Mistletoe, to name a few, are highly toxic to your beloved pets. Just a lick can cause reaction to your pet with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, seizures, and some can even be life threatening. It is very important that you keep all of these types of plants away from your pet. If you suspect that your pet may have ingested a holiday plant, call ASPCA Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
Everyone always looks forward to chowing down on the delicious holiday food and desserts! But many food items can be very toxic to your pet. Chocolate is highly toxic, as well as Xylitol found in many sugar-free baked goods. Onions, garlic, fat, bones, alcohol, etc. are all "No Nos" for your pet. Just because we can digest things doesn't mean our fuzzy friends can. Their metabolism is different than ours, and even though we can handle eating these things, they cannot. So don't give these food items to your pet and of course keep things out of reach off countertops or even in garbage cans that your pets can get to, or you might find yourself at the Animal ER with your pet this holiday. (You can read more about Holiday food dangers in our Thanksgiving blog.
The holidays are fun but can also be stressful, for us and our pets. They can be confused by all the "fuss" that is going on around this time of year. And it can be very stressful when strange guests arrive at our home to celebrate. If your pet seems stressed by strange house guests or all the "hustle and bustle" of the holidays, it may be a good idea to seclude your pet in a quiet area where they can rest peacefully.
The holidays are a joyful time of year. Just don't forget about your fuzzy friend. By following these steps you can ensure that you and your pet will have a safe holiday season. Now have fun and enjoy! Cheers!
12/20/2017