Holiday Pet Safety

‘Tis the season of shopping, decorating, hosting holiday guests, as well as plenty of hustle and bustle. However, the changes in your home and schedule can also be a little overwhelming for your pets. When planning for the holidays, help ensure your pet stays happy and safe during this festive season with a few quick tips.

Avoid Unhealthy Pet Treats

Everyone splurges on treats during the holidays, and you may be tempted to spoil your pets with table scraps outside of their normal diets. But please be careful, as pet digestive systems can be very sensitive to changes in diet. Consider spoiling your pet with 100% all natural, byproduct-free dog treats instead of table scraps. Even seemingly harmless meat from your plate contains extra fats, salts, and seasonings that can cause indigestion. While your dog may love bones, cooked bones can be extremely dangerous. The cooking process weakens the bone tissue, causing it to splinter and easily choke or even puncture the esophagus. Other hazardous holiday treats include chocolate, onions, garlic, and alcohol, which can all cause anything from gastrointestinal upset to a life-threatening emergency.

Continue to provide a normal, well-balanced diet during the holidays, and be sure that your guests are aware of your pet feeding rules.

Some Plants Can Be Toxic

Many holiday plants, trees, and flowers can be toxic to your dog or cat. Holly, mistletoe, and lilies can cause severe stomach upset and cardiovascular problems. If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it is properly secured and cannot tip over.

Pets may also be tempted to chew on the branches or needles of the tree; neither artificial nor real Christmas tree branches are safe for your pet, as both may contain either toxic pesticides or other chemicals. If you have a real tree, the water can also contain toxins and bacteria. If your pet will not leave your tree alone, try placing a child-safe gate or playpen around the tree to block access to the water, branches, and ornaments.

Go Tinsel-Free

Shiny tinsel should be left out of your holiday décor, as ingestion by a dog or cat can obstruct circulation and block intestines. Instead, capture that sought-after shimmer with metallic ornaments, hung high enough on the tree, out of paw’s reach. Plastic or glass ornaments can be broken and swallowed causing cuts to the mouth, throat, and intestines. Keep wires and batteries out of reach as well, as chewing wires can cause burns and more severely, electrocution. Consider using flameless candles. Holiday candles on windowsills and low tables have singed many a wagging tail.

Guests, celebrations, lights, and music are all a part of the holiday joy. But keep in mind that your pet may view these changes to his environment as overwhelming or even scary. Help your pet remain calm by keeping his routine as close to normal as possible. Continue with regular exercise and meals, and provide him time to relax in a quiet room when things get hectic in the house. By maintaining a relatively normal schedule, your pet will be better prepared to handle the excitement, and remain happy and healthy throughout the holiday season.