How to Keep Pets Safe During the Holidays
We want to help in keeping your holidays full of celebration with your family and your pets! That’s why we at StayCare have created some helpful tips to avoid common holiday hazards for your pets. With a little preparation, you can keep them safe and able to join in the festivities!
Christmas Ornaments
Oh such shiny, tempting decorations to play with! Tinsel, ribbon, and small breakable ornaments should be kept out of reach, especially for cats, they are more curious and able to climb. Items can get stuck in his or her gastrointestinal tract or stomach which could lead to an emergency visit to the vet. Keep an eye
on the pets while near the tree, especially when the lights are on. When going to bed, we recommend taking the pets with you or keeping them in a closed room, away from possible harm. If you have pets who cannot climb, or are not as curious, you may choose to place the tree on something that raises it off the floor in order to avoid any accidents. It is also important to be aware of the power cords and strings of lights so that the pets do not turn them into a "chew toy" and get electrocuted. Saving empty paper towel rolls and wrapping them around the power cords help in eliminating temptation.
Holiday Plants
Festive, colorful holiday plants can be very harmul to pets. Poinsettas are actually pretty mild hazards compared to mistletoe, holly and lilies. If your dog or cat eats holly, for example, it can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting or
diarrhea, as well as depression. It doesn’t take much to make a cat or small dog very sick, so we recommend avoiding bringing these plants into your home, if possible. If you receive holiday bouquets, be sure to check them for these plants before you display them. If you don't have cats, try keeping the plants up higher, out of reach of your other furry friends! If you have holiday plants in your house and you’re wondering if they may be toxic for your cat or dog, click HERE for a good reference list of potentially poisonous plants for pets from ASCPA.
Pets weill be tempted to drink from the bowl of water that your Christmas tree sits in. Trees can leak sap into this water, which can make your pet sick, not to mention the added items like aspirin, fertilizers or other chemicals in the water. A great way to attempt to keep the pets away is to place foil around the opening of the base. Simply cover the foil with the tree skirt to hide the color, or buy colored foil for an added holiday look!
Holiday Meats and Fatty Foods
In the day or two following Thanksgiving and Christmas, Veterinarians tend to receive unexpected veterinary visits from sick dogs – particularly small dogs. These dogs have eaten meat or other fatty foods, and they’ve irritated their pancreases. If your dog has gotten into
people food, you may notice symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of appetite, and/or lethargy, you may choose to call your Vet. They may just need to give your dog fluids for a day… or it may be a much more serious and deadly issue that needs to get addressed right away. On the topic of people food, we suggest keeping your pets out of the turkey and chicken. Turkey bones and chicken bones can get stuck and cause severe issues that may require surgery. A little prevention goes a long way!
We hope these tips help you and your beloved pets this season
and for years to come!