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Holiday Hazards for Pets
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
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By:
Kingsdale Animal Hospital
In:
Pet Health
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Holiday Hazards for Pets to Avoid
With December arriving next week, many of us have been busy getting ready for the holidays. While it is a festive and fun time, there are many holiday hazards to your pets that you should be aware of. Avoiding these dangers is relatively easy and will make for a safer and more enjoyable holiday for everyone.
1. Holiday decorations and gift wrap: Tinsel and ribbon pose a serious danger to pets and are especially attractive to cats. If ingested, these stringy objects can get lodged in the intestine causing a linear foreign body which can be deadly. Veterinary care, and often surgery, is required in these cases. It's best to avoid tinsel in households with cats and ensure you keep ribbon put away. Holiday ornaments, especially the round ones, can be very appealing as well. Pets can bite into these, with a risk of lacerations, choking or even a gastrointestinal foreign body. A good solution is to place these ornaments higher on the tree and to prevent access of your pets to your tree when you are not at home. |
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 | | 2. Chocolate: Most of us love chocolate, so it is no surprise that many dogs love it as well. Chocolate contains caffeines and methylxanthines which can pose a serious hazard. The darker the chocolate and the smaller the pet, the higher the risk. Some pets will only suffer vomiting and diarrhea, but if enough chocolate is ingested, more serious risks including tremors, heart arrhythmias, seizures and even death may occur. Most people underestimate how resourceful their dogs can be regarding accessing chocolate. Dogs can get into chocolates even if they are packaged or gift wrapped, so never place them under the tree! |
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 | | 3. Holiday foods: Most of us know that bones and fat trimmings are not good for our pets, but pets often fall victim to these hazards when they get into the garbage after a festive meal or when holiday guests feed them. Fatty foods can cause gastrointestinal upset or pancreatitis while bones can get lodged in the oral cavity, esophagus or further down the gastrointestinal tract. Other foods to avoid include grapes and raisins, many types of nuts and any sugar free gum. Xylitol is a common ingredient in sugar-free gum and peanut butter and if ingested by pets can lead to a hypoglycemic crisis. The best rule is to only feed your pet their regular diet. |
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 | | 4. Holiday plants. Poinsettias are mildly toxic causing irritation to the mouth and stomach and are not usually life threatening. Lilies, on the other can be extremely deadly to cats causing kidney failure and I do not recommend keeping any lilies in a household with cats. Other holiday plants that can be toxic include holly and mistletoe. They both can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but mistletoe can also cause collapse and seizures and can be fatal. |
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 | 5. Batteries. Electronics are popular holiday gifts and their associated batteries can be a major hazard. Both cats and dogs have been known to ingest these. Lithium button batteries are especially dangerous and can cause severe ulceration in the esophagus and stomach.
6. Holiday Candles. Unattended or unstable candles can be knocked over by pets and lead to injuries or fires. Please always make sure candles and stable and never left unattended. |
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