Holiday Pet Safety Tips

Season’s Greetings! The holiday season is already in full swing. Fido and Fluffy truly make those cozy holiday scenes complete. However, you will want to take a few steps to keep your pet safe at this special time of year. This article features a local veterinarian discussing pet safety.

Holiday Pet Toxins

Poison is a constant threat to your pet, regardless of the season. Some threats persist throughout the year. Many home objects, for example, are harmful to pets. That includes things like household cleansers, automobile goods, insecticides, lawn/garden items, and medications. There are also other issues that are more prevalent throughout specific seasons. Antifreeze is also particularly toxic to pets. Keep all and any toxins out of paws’ reach.

Safe and Unsafe Foods

Food is another worry. We all adore those delicious holiday feasts. Fido and Fluffy are also quite skilled at persuading us to share snacks with them. While some things are safe, others can make your furry pal very sick, and some are even fatal.

Here are some of the hazardous foods:

Chocolate/Caffeine

Chocolate is frequently at the top of the list of hazardous foods for dogs and cats, and for good reason. It contains something called theobromine, which pets cannot digest. In tiny dosages, it might produce nausea and diarrhea. Larger amounts may cause seizures, heart problems, coma, or death. Even worse, the fatal amount is sometimes as low as one ounce per pound of a pet’s body weight.

Grapes, Currants And Raisins

These small fruits are beneficial to humans but highly harmful to pets. In fact, dogs can suffer organ failure after ingesting just one. The problem here is tartaric acid, which causes serious—and sometimes fatal—damage to dogs’ kidneys. (They are also dangerous to cats, but kitties don’t tend to be very interested in them.)

Sweets

Anything high in sugar is generally unsuitable for your pet. However, some items are more hazardous than others. Xylitol is one of the major issues. Also known as birch sugar, it can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in pets. Symptoms include weakness, tiredness, and vomiting. Seizures and black and/or tarry feces are also symptoms. Unfortunately, consumption can cause liver failure, coma, and even death.

Meat on the Bone

Fido and Fluffy will undoubtedly take note of those scrumptious main courses. You can share meat, fish, and fowl with your pet, but only cooked, unseasoned meat that is free of skin, bones, and fat. Bones are particularly harmful when cooked. They become quite fragile and can break into sharp shards. These pose significant choking hazards and can cause major internal harm if consumed.

Other harmful foods include garlic, onion, and chives, avocado, uncooked dough, coffee, macadamia nuts, and anything high in salt, sugar, or fat. Make careful to ask your veterinarian about safe and harmful foods.

Be Cautious With Plants

Decorate carefully! These festive decorations can potentially be dangerous to playful pets. Many of these seasonal favorites are really harmful to our pets.

Here is a rundown of some of the ones to be wary of:

Holly: Holly includes methylxanthines, saponins, and cyanogens. If swallowed, these can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms.

Poinsettias: They can cause gastrointestinal problems. In fact, consuming too many leaves can be lethal.

Lilies: Lilies are among the most harmful plants for cats. In fact, even nibbling a few leaves or drinking a little water can cause deadly organ damage in cats.

Ivy: Ivy includes triterpenoid saponins, which are harmful to pets. Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling.

Mistletoe: Mistletoe produces the cytotoxin viscumin, which is poisonous to dogs. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory troubles, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and heart problems.

Stick to plants that you know are safe for pets. If you decide to acquire real plants, be very careful and keep them away from those lovely paws! Keep in mind that even healthy plants might become dangerous if they are covered with glitter or decorated with small objects. Ask your Plano, IL veterinarian for further information on safe and dangerous plants.

Pets and the Tree

These lovely trees make excellent centerpieces for any Christmas display. However, to pets, particularly cats, they are essentially enormous cat towers adorned with dazzling toys. We don’t have any foolproof solutions to deter Fluffy from climbing the tree, but we do have some suggestions.

Decorate Carefully: When decorating, only use dull, unbreakable materials for the lower branches. Keep the most delicate ornaments, as well as the majority of the lights and tinsel, on the upper levels. This way, if your pet knocks something off, it’s less likely to break.

Choose The Right Location: If you place the tree near to a convenient kitty launchpad, such as a desk, chair, or sofa, you’re essentially giving Fluffy full rein to cause havoc. If feasible, position the tree in a corner.

Cover The Water: If you get a real tree, you’ll need to be cautious around water. It may contain pesticide, fire retardant, and other toxic residues.

Keep Things Picked Up: Fallen needles, ornament hooks, and tinsel strands are all hazardous to pets if consumed.

Keep An Eye On Gifts: While some creatures will ignore them, some will be quite intrigued. Bows, ribbons, and strings are all potentially detrimental to your pet.

Want to keep  Fluffy away from the tree? One thing that could help? Bribery! Try giving your kitty companion some toys early on and letting her tire herself out with exciting play sessions. Hopefully, your kitty companion will burn off her zoomies and focus on resting under the tree with the other gifts.

Be Very Careful With Flames And Fire

Chestnuts roasting over an open fire may be an iconic image, but keep any fire or flames contained. If your fireplace uses wood, lay a grate in front of it. This is simply a basic common safety precaution. Candles should also be stored in high places. Be careful with potpourri burners as well! This isn’t just for pet safety, but overall safety.

Be Aware Of Pet Stress

Holiday stress is a real problem, for both humans and pets! Pets are creatures of habit. Schedule changes, visits, travel, and even environmental changes can all be upsetting for your pet.

Try to keep your pet’s schedule as consistent as possible. Pay special attention to Fluffy and Fido! If you have guests, provide pets with a safe, quiet space to unwind away from the hubbub.

If your pet is particularly frightened, talk to your veterinarian about pet-calming products. There are various options available, including treats, sprays, and collars. Simply follow the packaging directions to the letter.

Some pets may be fearful of decorations. If your pet is really anxious, you might want to reconsider putting up that enormous inflatable reindeer or the singing snowman.

Make sure to ask your Plano, IL veterinarian for more information.

Book An Appointment At Our Plano, IL Pet Hospital

We all wish you a happy Christmas season. Please contact us for all of your pet’s veterinary requirements. As your Plano, IL pet clinic, we are here to help!