The holidays can be an exciting time, and a stressful time for your pets. This article will provide some common hazards for dogs and cats during the holidays.
The holidays will commonly bring more plants than normal into the home. A number of holiday plants that are used for decorations include poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly berries. These plants cause gastric irritations and toxicities. If your cat or dog has been chewing on or ingesting any one of these plants, have them seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
If you plan on having large gatherings with family and/or friends, keep your cat or dog in a safe part of your home while you entertain.
Your Christmas tree…. if you have a cat, you are either giggling or sighing. Cats love to explore Christmas trees and often will knock the tree to the floor. There are Christmas tree anchors to keep the tree standing when your cat is exploring.
You could get your cat their own Christmas tree
Above are a few options that my own cats enjoy. All three can be found on Amazon by following the links below each picture.
Decorations for the Christmas tree also pose a hazard not only to your cat but dog as well. Christmas tree tinsel is one of the worse holiday decorations in my opinion. Tinsel can cause a GI obstruction and GI perforation which will require an expensive surgery and days in the hospital. Tinel can be FATAL so just don’t use it if you have pets.
Glass ornaments can pose a hazard as they will shatter if a Christmas tree is toppled over and cause serious paw pad lacerations. Angel hair, small plastic beads on a string and artificial snow are other decorations to avoid. Be cautious of ribbons used for presents as these can also cause GI obstructions and perforations. Ribbons can also cause a limb to lose blood supply if it is wrapped around a limb when your pet is playing with the ribbons.
If you have a real Christmas tree, do not allow your pet to drink the water at the base of the tree, especially if you use an additive to extend the longevity of your tree. These additives are toxic if your pet ingests them.
Be sure to properly keep extension and electrical cords out of reach of your pets. Keep the cords unplugged when they are not being used. Below are a few options to hide electrical cords.
From my home to yours- Merry Christmas! Have a safe holiday season!