12/13/2024
With the holidays approaching, we have put together 8 helpful holiday safety tips to keep your furry and not so furry companions safe and healthy this Christmas season.
1) Your furry friends might be short, but they don’t always stay on the floor. Keep all dangerous items up and safely secured such as small toys, garlands, tinsel, sugar free candies (xylitol), candles, essential oils, ribbons, scented plug ins for rooms, and snow globes (ethylene glycol).
2) Christmas plants such as holly, mistletoe, pine trees, yew, poinsettia, amaryllis and even your Christmas tree and its water are toxic to animals – keep them out of reach and off limits.
3) Unplug decorations while you're not around. Cats, dogs and other pets are often tempted to chew electrical cords.
4) Glass ornaments are also dangerous for your animals! They can easily fall on the ground and shatter, causing glass to go into paws or be eaten and cause intestinal blockage or injury. Salt dough ornaments are toxic if eaten. Keep ornaments out of reach. Secure your Christmas tree and restrict access to strictly supervised visits to prevent it from being knocked over and causing a catastrophe.
5) With all the comings and goings during the holidays, make sure your pet stays inside. Check that your pet is up-to-date on their identification, in case they get too stressed and manage to slip out of an open door while people are joining or leaving the festivities. We do not want pets to have a misadventure or get too cold or lost after escaping outside.
6) Avoid sharing your food or feeding table scraps, chocolate, and sweets or baked goods as they can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis. Keep edible Christmas gifts securely out of reach and put away (not under the tree) until they are given to the recipient.
7) Clear the food from your table, counters and serving areas when you are done using them and make sure the trash gets put where your pet can't reach it. A carcass or large quantity of meat sitting out on the carving table, or left in a trash container that is easily opened, could endanger your pet if eaten. Dispose of carcasses and bones – and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as strings, bags and packaging – in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed, locked door). Trash also should be cleared away where pets can't reach it – especially sparkly ribbon and other packaging or decorative items that could be tempting for your pet to play with or eat.
8) Know your closest 24/7 emergency veterinarian location and phone number. Signs that your pet may have eaten something that they shouldn't include sudden behavior changes, depression, pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your pet has any of these signs, call your veterinarian or nearest veterinary emergency clinic immediately. You may also want to call the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661); note that a fee may apply.
Remember pet safety as you are planning and preparing for your holiday.
We hope that you and your pets all have a safe and joyful holiday season!
