Happy Holidays! This time of year is truly special. Taking time to slow down and reconnect with our loved ones is important, and our pets are a big part of that! Fido and Fluffy truly add the perfect touch to those warm holiday scenes. That said, it’s a good idea to take some precautions to ensure your furry family members stays safe. This article features a local Pasadena, TX veterinarian sharing insights on holiday pet safety.
Potential Pet Toxins to Watch For
Regardless of the season, poison remains a significant danger to your beloved pet. There are certain things that can be a threat throughout the entire year. For instance, there are quite a few household items that can be toxic to our furry friends, including household cleaners, automotive products, pesticides, lawn and garden products, and medicines.
Some issues tend to arise mainly during specific seasons. Antifreeze is a serious concern, as it’s toxic for pets. Unfortunately, many animals enjoy the flavor. To prevent any potential mishaps, choose a brand that’s pet-friendly and clean up any spills right away.
Foods That Are Safe and Unsafe
Who doesn’t enjoy those delicious holiday meals? Fido and Fluffy have a knack for getting us to share little treats with them. While certain things are perfectly safe, others can pose serious health risks to your best friend, and some might even be life-threatening.
Let’s talk about some foods that can be quite dangerous:
Sweets
Foods that are high in sugar typically aren’t a good choice for your pet. Yet, there are certain things that pose a greater risk than others. Xylitol, for instance, is a major concern. Known as birch sugar, it can lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in pets. Keep an eye out for warning signs like weakness, lethargy, and vomiting. Some more serious signs to watch for are seizures and black or tarry stools. Sadly, ingesting something with this ingredient can result in liver failure, coma, or even death.
Chocolate
Chocolate ranks as one of the most dangerous foods for dogs and cats, and there’s a good reason for that. It contains a substance known as theobromine, which animals are unable to metabolize. In small amounts, it might lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Higher amounts can result in seizures, heart issues, coma, or even death. What’s even more alarming is that the lethal dose can be as little as one ounce for every pound of a pet’s body weight.
Grapes, Currants, and Raisins
These little fruits may be great for us humans, but they can be really harmful to our pets. In fact, dogs can experience organ failure after consuming just one. The problem at hand is tartaric acid, which can lead to serious—and potentially life-threatening—harm to a dog’s kidneys.
Meat on the Bone
Fido and Fluffy are sure to notice those tasty main courses! It’s perfectly fine to share some meat, fish, and poultry with your furry companion, but make sure it’s cooked, unseasoned, and free from skin, bones, and fat. Cooked bones can become quite brittle and may break into sharp shards, which can pose a significant choking hazard and can lead to serious internal injuries if swallowed.
Some other foods that can be harmful to companion animals include garlic, onion, and chives; avocado; raw dough; caffeine; macadamia nuts; and anything high in salt, sugar, or fat. Check with your Pasadena, TX vet about which foods are safe and which ones to avoid.
Exercise Caution Around Plants
Several holiday plants can be a hazard for our playful pets. Here’s a quick rundown of a few that you should steer clear of:
- Holly has a mix of methylxanthines, saponins, and cyanogens. If consumed, these can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and various other problems.
- Poinsettias may lead to some gastrointestinal problems. Consuming a large enough amount of the leaves can be deadly.
- Lilies are among the most hazardous plants for cats. Just a small nibble of the leaves or a sip of the water can lead to serious organ damage.
- Ivy contains triterpenoid saponins, which can be toxic to pets. Ingesting this substance can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling.
- Mistletoe contains a cytotoxin known as viscumin, which can be harmful to dogs. Some signs to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory issues, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and heart problems.
Choose plants that you’re confident are safe for your pets. If you decide to go for real plants, just be cautious and make sure to keep them out of reach of those adorable little paws! Just remember, even plants that are usually safe can turn risky if they’re adorned with glitter or tiny decorations. Check in with your Pasadena, TX vet to learn more about which plants are safe and which ones to avoid.
Holiday Tree Safety
Beautiful trees really create stunning centerpieces for your holiday scene. To pets, especially our feline friends, they’re really just oversized cat towers adorned with shiny decorations. While we can’t guarantee a surefire method to stop Fluffy from climbing the tree, we do have a few helpful tips to share.
Be Strategic with Decorations: When you’re decorating, make sure to place only dull, unbreakable items on the lower branches. Place the more delicate ornaments, along with most of the lights and tinsel, on the upper sections. That way if your pet happens to knock something over, it’s less likely to break that way.
Select the Ideal Spot: Placing the tree right next to a handy kitty launchpad, such as a desk, chair, or sofa, essentially gives Fluffy the green light to cause some chaos. If you can, try to place the tree in a corner, away from any furniture or other potential launch pads.
Cover the Water: If you choose a real tree, keep the water out of reach of your pets, as it could contain traces of pesticides, fire retardants, and various other toxins.
Maintain a Tidy Space: Fallen needles, ornament hooks, and tinsel strands can pose a real danger to pets if they happen to ingest them.
Be Careful with Gifts: Some pets might not give gifts much thought, while others will definitely show a lot of curiosity about them. Bows, ribbons, and strings can pose a real danger to your furry friend.
Exercise Extreme Caution with Flames and Fire: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire is a classic scene, but it’s important to ensure that any fire or flames are kept safely contained. If you have a fireplace that burns logs, consider placing a grate in front of it. Keep candles in elevated spots, and be careful with potpourri burners.
Be Aware of Stress: Holiday stress is real, and it affects both people and animals. Pets really are creatures of habit. Schedule adjustments, visitors, travel, and even slight changes in the environment can really throw your furry friend off balance.
Try to stick to your pet’s regular routine as much as you can, and make sure to give Fluffy and Fido a little extra love and attention.
When you have guests over, it’s a good idea to provide your pets with a calm, quiet spot where they can escape to, away from the hustle and bustle.
If your pet tends to be really anxious, you might want to chat with your Pasadena, TX vet about some calming products. There are a variety of options out there, including treats, sprays, and collars. Make sure to stick closely to the package directions.
Some pets might feel scared by decorations. If your furry friend is among them, you might want to reconsider setting up that huge inflatable reindeer or the singing snowman.
Make sure to reach out to your vet in Pasadena, TX for additional information.
Schedule an Appointment at Our Pasadena, TX Animal Hospital
Wishing you a fantastic holiday season filled with joy! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us, your trusted Pasadena, TX vet, for any of your pet’s needs.
