Holiday Hazards

It’s a holly, jolly holiday season, but this time of year can be dangerous for our pets. There are so many wonderful traditions this time of year, and we want you to continue those… safely. Here are a few holiday hazards to avoid so your furry companions feel merry and bright the whole holiday season through.

Fire/burn hazards 

A curious pet could knock over a burning candle, causing a fire, or could stick her nose near one and burn herself.
Those tempting wires might look like a tasty or interesting treat to your pet, but they could deliver a potentially deadly electric shock when chewed. Prevent your pet from chewing a toy with a battery in it—punctured batteries can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus.

Choking hazards

Those shiny ornaments might look appetizing to your pet, but the broken pieces can damage her digestive tract. Cats love tinsel, but tinsel does not love cats. Swallowing tinsel and other stringy items, like yarn and ribbon, can lead to a bowel obstruction, vomiting, dehydration, and even death. Give your pup a new ball that’s too big for him to swallow. Regular-size tennis balls can get lodged in the throat and block the airway.

Toxic substances

• If holly or mistletoe are ingested, your pet could suffer gastrointestinal upset. Mistletoe can also cause cardiovascular problems.
• Many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats.
• Christmas tree water could contain fertilizers and bacteria that can cause nausea, upset stomach, or diarrhea if ingested.
• Chocolate, artificial sweeteners (like xylitol), fatty or spicy foods, alcohol, grapes, and other human foods can, at best, cause an upset stomach, and, at worst, be fatal, if pets consume them.

Keep the human food on the human table, and give your pets some special animal-friendly holiday treats instead. Human medications should be secured so pets can’t unknowingly get into them. Click here to learn more about pet vomiting.

Stress

Give your pets a quiet, calm space away from the craziness and noise of holiday gatherings. Use calming pheromone products, like Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats) to mitigate anxiety. These products are available as plug-in diffusers, collars, or sprays.

Questions about common holiday hazards? We’d be happy to chat with you about them. Contact us today with any questions you may have.