5 Tips for Christmas Safety

Here are 5 tips and tricks to keep your pets safe this holiday season!

Oh Christmas Tree

Securely anchor your Christmas tree, so it doesn’t tip and fall causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea. For those buying a live Christmas tree this year keep the area free and clear of pine needles. While they may not seem dangerous, the needles can puncture your pet’s intestines if ingested.

Tinsel Town

Cats love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery.

Light it up

Do not put lights on the tree’s lower branches. Not only can your pet get tangled up in the lights, but they are also a burning hazard. Additionally, your pet may get shocked by biting through the wire.

Ornaments need to be kept out of reach too. In addition to being a choking and intestinal blockage hazard, pieces from broken ornaments may injure paws, mouths, or other parts of your pet’s body.

Sweets and treats

Don’t have open chocolate around if you have a dog, as it can be very toxic to them.

Other sweets and baked goods also should be kept out of reach. Not only are they often too rich for pets; an artificial sweetener often found in baked goods, candy and chewing gum, xylitol, has been linked to liver failure and death in dogs.

Turkey and table scraps

Sometimes even in small amounts can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis. Gravy and meat fat also should be kept away from pets. Many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins and grapes. During the holidays when our own diets tend toward extra-rich foods, table scraps can be especially fattening and hard for animals to digest.

Make sure there are no turkey or chicken bones left around. If ingested, they can get stuck in the throat or can cause splinters for dogs or cats

Written by: Felisha Murphy, CCS