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For many of us, the holiday season is filled with seasonal celebrations and traditions that are shared with the entire family, including our four-legged friends.
As you celebrate this holiday season, try to keep your pet’s daily routine as close to normal as possible and follow a few simple suggestions to keep your pet safe.
Holiday Table Scraps: We tend to indulge in rich, fatty foods during the holidays. Though our pets may enjoy the taste of many of these foods, they can be potentially harmful and lead to costly medical bills. Since our pets are not accustomed to abrupt changes in their diet, a sudden increase in fat content can negatively impact their digestive health. Feeding foods such as ham, turkey and desserts are a common cause of vomiting, diarrhea and even pancreatitis. Even the juices from cooking these foods can have enough fat to make your pet very sick.
Foods with bone fragments are especially dangerous. Since bones are not easily digested, they can become lodged in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract causing an obstruction and potentially requiring invasive surgical removal. If the bones have sharp points, they can perforate your pet’s stomach or intestines resulting in a life-threatening situation.
Remember to also consider where you place tasty treats and how accessible they are to your pet. You would be surprised at the dexterity and acrobatics your pet has when it comes to reaching a scrumptious treat. Additionally, remember that any gifts containing food items that are placed under your Christmas tree are very tempting to curious pets.
Chocolate: Many of us know that chocolate can be hazardous to our pets; however, it is not uncommon to see a bowl filled with chocolate candy sitting on the dining room table in a pet owner’s home. It is the ease of accessibility and sweet taste that makes chocolate a very enticing toxin for dogs and cats.
Chocolate contains both caffeine and theobromine (a compound related to caffeine). Depending on the dose, these compounds can result in hyperexcitability followed by weakness, loss of balance, seizures and ultimately coma and death. The doses of theobromine and caffeine (the toxins) in chocolate are dependent on the type and amount of chocolate ingested.
Though all chocolate poses a risk if ingested, chocolate with a more bitter taste tends to have a higher concentration of these toxins. For instance, baker’s chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate, which is more dangerous than white chocolate. If your pet ingests chocolate, it is important that they are seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Household Plants: Some holiday ornamental plants such as holly and mistletoe can cause illness in your pet if ingested. There are many species of mistletoe, so it is difficult to predict the effects of ingestion, but clinical signs range from mild gastrointestinal upset to liver failure and seizures.
Ingestion of lilies is very serious and can lead to acute kidney failure. Although many reports of poinsettia toxicity have been exaggerated, ingestion of its leaves can cause gastrointestinal upset. In rare instances, blisters may form in the pet’s mouth. If your pet ingests any of these plants, it should be seen by a veterinarian.
Christmas Trees: Christmas trees, although beautiful, are filled with tinsel and fragile, light catching ornaments that many pets consider toys (especially cats). Keep these ornaments away from their swatting paws.
Most ornaments have hooks that can cause injury to the paws or inside of your pet’s mouth. If ingested, these hooks can also damage the gastrointestinal tract. If your cat is tempted to play with the ornaments on your tree, decorate the bottom third of the tree with non-breakable, plastic or wooden ornaments that do not have hooks.
Many pets, especially puppies, are attracted to Christmas lights. Chewing or pulling on the electric cord can result in burns to the face and mouth or electrocution. Lights should be hung out of a pet’s reach and pets should not be left unattended near Christmas trees or other strands of light.
Frayed electric cords present a fire hazard, especially when placed near flammable material such as wrapping paper and bows.
Remember to securely anchor your Christmas tree to prevent it from toppling over should your pet decide to jump or climb on it to reach a shiny ornament. The presents neatly wrapped under the tree also pose a similar risk as the ornaments hanging from the tree. Cats dream about playing with the ribbon and bows wrapped around a present, but a tiny nibble can result in an intestinal obstruction. This can result in a life-threatening situation requiring surgery to remove the foreign object.
New Pets: The Christmas tree is sparkling with decorations and the presents are neatly tucked under the tree when suddenly a large box starts to wiggle. A puppy or kitten wearing a giant red bow suddenly emerges from the box as everyone squeals with delight. We have all seen similar images on TV. Even though this gift will most likely result in exuberant celebration and claims to walk the new edition every day before school, the holiday season rarely provides sufficient time to introduce, socialize and train a new furry friend. It is difficult to establish a routine with the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating and family gatherings.
Instead of bringing home your new pet during the height of holiday festivities, put presents under the tree such as a bowl, collar and a book describing your new pet. This will allow the cheerful recipient to learn about their new pet before it comes home.
New Year’s Noise: Although we may enjoy ringing in the new year watching the sky erupt in bright colors, the noise from fireworks is frightening to many pets. Do no leave your pet unattended outside on New Year’s Eve as they may become startled by the noise and run from the yard in fright. Also, provide your pet with a safe haven where they can retreat when guests are visiting. Many pets will be happier in a separate room curled up in their bed during the festivities.
As the hustle and bustle of the holidays begins, remember that pets can’t protect themselves by deciding what is safe and what isn’t. As owners, we must be aware of these risks to prevent mishaps.
If we take necessary steps to minimize these risks, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season for the entire family.
For more information on ways to protect your pet or if your pet experiences any of the problems listed above, call the Kaiserslautern Veterinary Treatment Facility at 493-4444 or 0631-3406-4444. If it is an emergency or outside of the clinic’s normal business hours, contact a local veterinary emergency clinic.
