The holidays are quickly approaching; time to decorate the house, bake some goodies, and spend time with those you love. However, if not careful, many holiday foods, decoration and other winter related products can be harmful to your pet. It is important to stay informed and know what to avoid with a pet in the household so that you can truly enjoy the season.
Holiday Decoration Precautions
When it comes to decorating the house, be cautious with what you use. Some holiday plants are toxic, especially for cats. Lilies are lethal and should never be within a cat’s reach. Other toxic plants include holly and mistletoe, which can cause damage to your pet’s gastro-intestinal tract, as well as poinsettias which are mild irritants as the sap can cause stomach upset.
Candles are another potentially hazardous decoration. Although typically not toxic to ingest, pets can accidentally knock them over resulting in burns or damage to your home.
When it comes to hanging lights or putting up a tree be careful that they are properly anchored and all wires are out of reach. Tinsel is a common decoration which can be fatal if ingested. Tinsel, ribbons, string or yarn are very appealing to cats and can cause serious health issues if ingested, resulting in expensive emergency surgery. It is recommended to avoid the use of any string-like décor or ribbons if you have a cat in the house. Many decorations are homemade with popcorn, marshmallows, or even baked dough. These can be very enticing to eat, especially for dogs, and are often held together with string, pins, or other foreign material that can be fatal if ingested. Ensure these types of decorations are out of your pet’s reach.
Foods to Avoid
Holiday dinners are always delicious, but can contain ingredients harmful to your pet. Many entrees include garlic, onions or mushrooms which should never be given to your pet. Salt can be severely toxic and potentially life threatening to cats and dogs if ingested in sufficiently large quantities. Bones from fish, meat, or poultry should never be given to your pet as they can splinter in their intestinal tract. Rich fatty or greasy foods, such as gravy, can also cause stomach upset or even pancreatitis. Another food to avoid is uncooked bread dough. The yeast can cause your pets stomach to expand resulting in life-threatening toxicity.
Chocolate, especially dark, is toxic for both cats and dogs and must be kept out of their reach. Coffee and tea have a similar effect as chocolate and should also be kept away from your pets. Fruit cake, or any food containing grapes, raisins, currants or macadamia nuts, is toxic to your pet. Lastly, while many of us enjoy a glass of wine, rum and eggnog, or a beer to celebrate the holidays, be aware that alcohol is toxic to pets and can be enticing when in a mixed drink due to their sweet aroma.
Other Winter Worries
During the cold season many people purchase antifreeze which has a very sweet taste that is alluring to pets and is lethal. Always keep antifreeze locked away from your pet. With cool weather come the cough, colds and flu. Cough medicine or decongestants, especially those containing xylitol, should be kept out of your pets reach. Hand warmers or foot warms contain iron which, if ingested can cause serious health issues.
If you suspect that your pet has ingested a potentially toxic or dangerous product, please call Centrepointe Animal Hospital as soon as possible. If after hours, you can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.
Keeping these tips in mind will help make for a relaxing holiday and help avoid an unwanted emergency trip to your veterinary hospital. We wish all of our clients and their pets a happy holiday!