06/12/2024
Holiday preparations can unintentionally introduce hidden dangers to pets. Seemingly harmless items like candles, decorations, certain foods, and household products can pose serious risks. Beyond common hazards like chocolate, Xylitol, and alcohol, watch out for less obvious threats to ensure a safe and joyful season for your furry friends.
Wrapping Paper, Ribbons, Tinsel & Tapes
Choking Hazards: Pets may chew or swallow bits of paper, ribbon, or tape, which can cause choking or intestinal blockages.
Toxic Ink: Some wrapping papers may have inks or dyes that are toxic to pets if ingested.
String & Ribbons: These can lead to serious injuries or blockages if swallowed. They can create a linear foreign body, damaging large sections of bowel.
Christmas Trees and Pine Needles
Toxic Pine Needles: Some evergreen plants, such as pine, spruce, and fir, can cause nausea, vomiting, or even liver damage if ingested.
Water from Tree Stands: The water used to keep live trees hydrated may contain chemicals that can harm pets if consumed.
Ornaments and Tinsel: Small ornaments and tinsel can be enticing for pets to play with, but they can pose choking hazards or cause intestinal blockages if ingested.
Artificial Snow and Snow Globes: Some artificial snow products contain chemicals that can be harmful if ingested. Snow globes may contain toxic liquids or small parts that could be dangerous to pets if broken or chewed on.
Electrical cords: Pets chewing on cords can suffer severe burns on the tongue and cheeks.
Trees falling over: Gate off the tree to prevent cats climbing the tree or dogs pulling the tree over.
Holiday Plants
Poinsettias: These festive plants are mildly toxic to dogs and cats, causing irritation to the mouth and stomach upset.
Mistletoe: Ingesting mistletoe can lead to gastrointestinal upset and even heart problems.
Holly: While not as toxic as some plants, holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea if consumed.
Amaryllis: This beautiful flower, often gifted around the holidays, is toxic to pets and can cause drooling, nausea, and vomiting.
Dangerous Toys & Gifts
Small Toys or Toys with Small Parts
Choking Hazards: Small toys or toys that contain small parts (buttons, eyes, etc.) can be easily chewed off and swallowed, posing a choking risk. Always ensure toys are the right size for your pet, especially for dogs or cats that tend to chew.
Squeaky Toys: While fun, squeaky toys can be torn apart and the squeaker inside can pose a choking hazard if ingested. Choose durable toys designed to withstand heavy chewing.
Stuffed Toys with Beads: Some plush toys may contain beads or pellets inside. If the toy is torn open, these small parts can be dangerous if swallowed.
Toys with Toxic Materials or Fillings�Some toys, especially cheaper or imported ones, may be made with toxic materials like lead or PVC. Always check that toys are pet-safe, especially for pets that tend to chew on everything.
Balloons�Latex or foil balloons can be a choking hazard if popped and eaten. Balloons also pose a risk if a pet tries to bite into them and accidentally swallows pieces.
Rubber Bands, Hair Ties, and String�Pets are attracted to rubber bands and hair ties. When ingested, they can lead to serious internal injuries or blockages. Similarly, string, yarn, or floss can get tangled in their intestines, requiring surgical removal.
Ribbons and Bows�These are often used as decorations on gifts, but they can be easily ingested by pets, leading to choking or serious digestive issues. The string-like texture can also get tangled around your pet’s mouth, throat, or intestines.
Socks: Though ingesting socks are not a holiday issue, the chaos of the season could lead to the family being careless, not picking up clothing items and the pet ingesting it. This usually results in a surgical intervention.
