The holidays are a joyous time but let’s also keep pets safe!
With the hustle and bustle that comes every year in December, we need to remember to keep our pets safe when celebrating the holidays. There are many things to keep in mind during this season to make sure our pets have a happy and safe holiday time.
For those pet owners who have Christmas trees up, please make sure they are securely anchored. Many an inquisitive cat has caused trees to fall when trying to climb them. Also, remember live trees may contain fertilizers in them and may leach into the water of the tree stand. Make sure your pets cannot drink from the stand as it may cause tummy upset. And if you like to decorate with tinsel or ribbons, it would be best to avoid this decoration with kitties in the house. Cats love sparkly, shiny toys and tinsel and ribbons can be tempting for them to play with and possibly eat. Both can lead to obstructions in the digestive tract, making for a very sick cat who would likely need surgery to help them get better.
With the holiday, many love to give the gift of candies and chocolates. Take care to keep your pets away from things they should not eat. If you get anything sweetened with Xylitol, keep it far away from your pets, especially dogs. It can be deadly to pets who ingest it. It is also a good idea to avoid sharing any of the holiday meals with your pets. If your pets are not used to having scraps, they could have some digestive upsets when given something they are not used to eating.
There are certain plants which are popular this time of year that may cause some problems for our pets. Holly, mistletoe, lilies, and poinsettias are plants that can cause a variety of problems from mild digestive upsets to cardiac or kidney issues. Keep these plants away from your pets or choose pet-safe plants or silk/plastic plants for the holidays.
If you like to light candles in celebration, make sure you don’t leave them unattended. Curious pets may knock them over and could burn themselves or start a fire. When leaving a room with a lit candle, please make sure to put it out.
We wish you a Happy And Safe Holiday Season for you, your family, and your pets!