5 Holiday Pet Safety Tips

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”……..well….EXCEPT “Bear” that is!!! One Christmas my Mom hand-crafted dog bone ornaments…..she had taken special care to shellac them in an attempt to preserve them & “hide” the smell from the pets. “Bear” however, was not to be fooled! When we were “all nestled snug in our beds, for a long winter’s nap”, “Bear” ate every last one of the ornaments straight off the tree!!!!

In classic labrador retriever style – “Bear” would eat ANYTHING – and I truly mean ANYTHING! He once gobbled two whole XL pizzas – knocked them off the kitchen counter and chowed down! Another time he ate the entire contents of my Easter basket!!! But, I think the most memorable, was when he ransacked and totally demolished all of the fancy pre-packaged baking kits that I had purchased from Pier One as Christmas gifts. You know – the kind with all the ingredients for cookies, hot cocoa or pancakes…..all wrapped up & tied with a shiny Holiday bow!!! They were the perfect solution for a frazzled veterinary student who had no time for shopping. I was so pleased with myself for having all my shopping done before finals even started! I had visions of being able to just relax and enjoy the much needed break instead of frantically buying gifts for friends & family members at the last minute. NOPE!!!! My hopes & dreams were bashed when I came home from classes one afternoon to find that “Bear” had busted through my securely locked closet door & had eaten ALL of it! There were powdered-sugar laden paw prints on the floor, shredded bits of green & red bows and wrapping paper strewn about the apartment…….but the “tell-tail” clue of the culprit was revealed by the hot cocoa mix smooshed all over his adorable face!!!!!

So, maybe I can save you some heart-ache and a trip to the veterinary ER clinic by offering some tried and true tips for preventing your pets from getting into mischief during the Holidays!!!!

1. just like “Bear” – some pets will eat ANYTHING – Preventing Access is KEY!!!!!!

• Chocolate, sweets, candy & gum – the caffeine (theobromine) and artificial sweeteners (Xylitol) in these items are VERY poisonous to pets; consuming  them can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hypoglycemia and heart & kidney failure
• Alcohol – just a tiny amount can cause poisoning leading to intoxication,  vomiting, incoordination and collapse
• Yeast dough – the yeast in raw baking dough can continue to rise in the pets stomach causing gas to accumulate and lead to the development of  life threatening bloat; yeast also produces ethanol as a by-product, which can lead to secondary alcohol intoxication in pets
• SO MANY Other Types of “Human” Food!!! – left unattended with access to people food is simply irresistible for most pets; be sure to put your festive foods away/out of sight; don’t leave dishes uncovered or in easy reach; don’t allow house guests to give your pets hand-outs, rich foods or treats that they are not used to eating

2. Keep Greenery Out of Reach

• Christmas trees
  • secure them to avoid toppling – kitties especially are tempted to climb!
  • cover water pan – bacteria and fertilizer in the water will cause intestinal upset if ingested
• Seasonal plants – all can cause serious internal issues  -vomiting, diarrhea and major organ failure are often the result of consuming these most common Holiday plants:
  • Amaryllis
  • Azaleas
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Evergreens
  • Holly
  • Ivy
  • Juniper
  • Lily
  • Mistletoe
  • Poinsettia

3. Minimize Dangerous Décor

• Lights and wires  – serious injury or death by entanglement or electrocution can occur if they are played with or chewed
• Ornaments – glass ones can break & cause injury, home-made salt dough kind will cause upset tummies, shiny surfaces attract attention
• Tinsel, string, ribbons & bows – are WAY too tempting to play with; when ingested they can cause intestinal blockage that could require surgery to remove
• Holiday fragrances – lit candles can easily be knocked over causing a house-fire; incense, potpourri & essential oils can be noxious/bothersome to the nose, eyes and lungs of pets and if consumed cause mouth irritation and severe gastrointestinal upset
• Snow globes –besides the broken glass hazard, the liquid inside may contain ethylene glycol (the toxic ingredient  in antifreeze) – most pets will drink it because of the sweet taste; this can cause seizures, kidney failure and even death
• Holiday villages – there are SO many hazards in these!! the small pieces can be eaten, the ceramic houses will shatter if broken, the lights/wires and artificial snow are also very attractive to most pets

4. “Train” Your House Guests!

• Outside access
  • if your pets are allowed to go outside, inform your visitors of how/where and if they are to be walked on a leash or free to roam the yard on their own
  • take precaution that doors and fences are kept properly closed and locked to prevent your pet from escaping
• NO “hand-outs”!!!!– don’t allow guests to feed your pet unusual foods/treats; this will just encourage your pet to seek out other things they don’t normally eat & lead to all of the issues mentioned above
• Medications/overnight bags – make sure they are kept off the floor and secured to prevent curious pets from getting into them
• Gifts that include food – these should be kept behind locked doors, off the floor & only brought out on Christmas day; pets have an acute sense of smell & will track down those packages & just like “Bear” – given the opportunity, they will likely ransack & eat the contents!!!!

5. Avoid Stressful Situations

• Loud noises – boisterous guests, decorations or toys that make noise can be very scary to pets; it may be best to give your pet a quiet room away from the commotion if you are having a party, unfamiliar people or small children over
• Unusual schedules – pets are creatures of habit; any change in their feeding time, walk schedule or general daily routine can be VERY unsettling to them; try your best to minimize this during the hustle and bustle of the Holidays
• Other animals – the Holidays are NOT a good time to introduce new pets into the home and should NEVER be given as a “surprise” gift; also, if your are having other pets over as visitors – be sure that they are introduced to your pet in a calm and quiet manner

6. BONUS TIP!!!! Identification Tags & Microchips – this is key to reuniting lost pets with their families!! Make sure your pet has proper identification with your correct/current contact information……micro-chips are better than just a tag/collar which can be lost. If your pet isn’t already micro-chipped, talk to your veterinarian about the benefits of this simple procedure!

After all the CRAZINESS of 2020 – I know you are all looking forward to gathering with your families. I hope these tips will help to make the holidays “PAWS-ITEVLEY PURRFECT” for you and your pet!!!

Blessings for a safe and healthy season to you all!  

Dr. Danielle Sears