Photo courtesy of Sydnee’s Pet Grooming, San Marcos.
It is easy to forget just how many dangers are present to pets during the holidays, especially as we get caught up in celebrating the season. Here are some tips to be sure that nothing mars the festivities for either you or your furry friends.
Halloween
Many types of candy can make your dog or cat sick. Chocolate and sugarless chewing gum are the more serious ones. Sugarless gum contains xylitol, which can also be found in some mints, baking mixes and food for diabetics.
Candy wrappers can be irritating to the intestines and cause vomiting or, more seriously, an impaction of excrement.
Candles in carved pumpkins can burn pets when they investigate them. If an animal bites one of the glow sticks that are carried by children, the chemicals from the sticks can wind up in its mouth.
Dogs and cats are not usually fond of costumes for long periods of time—cats generally can’t tolerate them, period. If you do outfit your pet, put the costume on for a short period of time before trick-or-treaters arrive. Take your photos, and then remove the costume so you won’t be distracted later in the evening when children come to your door.
Most importantly, keep your dog or cat indoors on the night kids trick-or-treat. The Halloween terrors that can harm pets are all too real. It’s easy for a pet to slip out the door when it’s opened frequently, followed by a lot of commotion.
Some pets do not do well with all the activity around Halloween, so find them a warm, quiet spot to make it through the night with minimal trauma.
Thanksgiving
Turkey skin, gravy, scraps and the fixings that go along with this meal can cause severe stomach and intestinal upset in animals. It can even lead to pancreatitis, a very painful condition that might require hospitalization.
The string used to tie the turkey is flavorful to cats and dogs and so is readily ingested. The string can cause a severe problem with the intestines, possibly leading to a rupture and emergency surgery. Other Thanksgiving foodstuffs to watch for are sage, nuts, onion, garlic and nutmeg. And don’t forget to keep your dog or cat away from any turkey bones that can splinter or get stuck in the intestines. The alcohol that flows so freely is also toxic.
One of the biggest threats is the day after Thanksgiving when your pet has found the trash containing irresistible smells and tastes. Dispose of your post-feast scraps so that they are not accessible by any of your pets.
Winter Holidays and New Year’s Eve
This season has the same threats as Thanksgiving, with the addition of seasonal decorations, gift wrap and ornamental lighting for pets to bite or swallow. Broken ornaments can cut paws.
Tinsel is especially problematic because it’s irresistible to many cats. It has sharp edges and can easily cut through the intestines, leading to severe disease and emergency surgery to save your pet’s life.
Artificial and natural Christmas trees can contain preservatives, pesticides, toxins and oils to keep them fresh and prevent fires. The water used to keep a real tree fresh can contain these toxins, so keep it covered. Needles from trees can be ingested or inhaled, or penetrate body parts, causing serious harm.
Many holiday plants, both leaves and berries, can be toxic, so keep your pet away from all of them to be safe. This is especially true for holly, mistletoe and poinsettias. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats. The water at the base of these plants contains these toxins, so keep it covered.
Biting into the extra electrical cords used to light Christmas decorations can cause a severe lung reaction leading to fluid buildup and death. Keep these cords covered.
Batteries for toys can be easily bitten into or swallowed. This can cause an obstruction or severe toxicity.
Let’s not forget the ubiquitous fruitcake that nobody except for the dog and an odd cat seems to eat. Since fruitcake contains candied fruits, spices, sometimes alcohol, and nuts, your pet can become ill.
Even with a list this long, there’s an even longer list of happy and pleasurable things. Long Beach Animal Hospital wishes them for you and your pet.