We all make a conscious effort to keep our pets happy and safe, yet the holiday season brings a rush of emergency vet visits and, sadly, severe illness and injuries, and maybe even the loss of a beloved pet. Rich foods, holiday decorations, gift wrapping, alcohol, caffeine, and lots of company all bring added danger to cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, and other household pets. Some of these holiday tips for your pet’s safety may be new to you, but a reminder of what you already know always helps. With just a few precautions, you can keep your furry or feathery companion in good physical and mental health.
1. Say no to candles and essential oils.
Candles bring unexpected dangers into the household beyond the risk of fire. This fact is especially important to know if you have a bird because avian respiratory tracts are extremely sensitive to the aerosolized perfumes and other chemicals that scented candles emit when lit. Secondly, flames from a lit candle are dangerous if a bird flies or hops too close, as feathers are highly flammable and can catch fire.
Strong scents, including some essential oils, may also be unpleasant to dogs and cats alike and can cause stress or airway irritation for both cats and dogs, depending on how strong and what the scent is. And, if you’re an essential oil lover like I am, remember that many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang are straight-up toxic to pets.
2. Your Christmas tree and some plants are more dangerous than you may know.
- No tree climbing, not even for a photo opp! Your pet, especially cats, may attempt to climb or jump on your tree, and cats may try to use the trunk as a scratching post. These actions can cause the tree to fall and possibly result in an injury.
Consider a stable stand or brace your tree by hooking it to the wall or ceiling. - Keep pets away from the tree water. Evergreens contain harmful chemicals in the bark and sap, which can leech into the tree’s water supply. If you have a live tree, it’s essential to change the water regularly and not let your pet drink from the stand. Laying a wire screen over the base can help keep your pet out of the water.
- Clean up evergreen needles. The oil on pine needles can irritate pets. Sharp needles can also puncture the digestive tract if swallowed, or they can lodge in the intestines and require surgery to remove. Make sure to sweep up needles that have dropped to the floor regularly.
- Poinsettia sap can irritate the mouth and stomach. Don’t let your cat, dog, rabbit, Guinea pig (or anyone for that matter) chew on the leaves or stems of this festive plant. Even some mistletoe plants are toxic, and holly can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
Consider a stable stand or brace your tree by hooking it to the wall or ceiling.3. Keep the kitchen off-limits, especially to your feathered friends.
Like scented candles, cooking fumes, and smoke can be deadly if your bird inhales them. Plus, when heated, many people cook with nonstick pans, and the vapors emitted by the nonstick coating can kill a bird instantly. Some appliances, such as stoves, space heaters, and toaster ovens, also have these coatings and should not be used around birds. So, take no chances: Move your bird away from these hazards into a different airspace and socialize with them in the living room.
Even though the family dog loves to sit at your feet as you cook, it’s not a safe spot for him. Garlic, onion, and many other foods that aren’t good for your pet can easily fall to the floor. And, if you’re like me, you may feel more rushed in your cooking than usual, and who knows if something hot will spill or what knives might slip off the cutting board.
If your pet ingests something you are unsure about, call ASPCA’s 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435. Keep this, your vet’s number, and an emergency vet’s number and address ready and available all year around.
4. No chocolate, not even a drop!
It seems like chocolate is in almost everything we eat during the holidays — cake, cookies, even our drinks. We love our chocolate, and so do our pets! But chocolate contains substances called methylxanthines (specifically, caffeine and theobromine), which birds and other pets are far more sensitive to than people. Generally, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the danger is to pets. All it takes is one bite for a small bird to have a problem, and it doesn’t take much more to harm other larger pets.
5. Avoid tinsel, and don’t let your furry friends play with gift wrappings or ornaments, no matter how cute they look doing it.
I’ll never forget the time our crazy, yet loveable, Weimaraner crunched down on a glass ornament. Who would expect that? Fortunately, we were home and able to clear and check his mouth immediately, but how many more might he have feasted on if we weren’t in the room? Animals do the most unexpected things, so please watch over them carefully during this season.
- Take down the tinsel. It’s shiny, glittery, and stringy, making it extra attractive to our feline friends. If ingested, tinsel can wrap around the base of the tongue and get caught in the intestines, causing an intestinal blockage, which can lead to emergency surgery.
- Use safe decorations on your gifts. Dyed ribbons, salt ornaments, and sharp objects are all tempting play toys for our pets. I love to gift wrap and am guilty of using all the above, but when I’m away, I place a gate around the tree to keep the pets away. Our cats seem to know how precarious the temporary gate is, so they stay away, but if your kitties are more daring than Bodhi and Mindy, please take other precautions.
6. Keep people-food away from your pets.
When those adorable, begging eyes look up at you, offering a lick of gravy or a piece of ham to your cutie pies is tempting. The list of toxins in human foods is long, so please don’t take that chance. If you must feed your cat or dog some extra goodies, give them raw meat rather than seasoned, cooked meats. Garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, xylitol, and so many other common food ingredients can disrupt your holiday with a trip to the emergency vet. These foods can cause permanent damage to your pet’s health. Resist the begging eyes and offer safe treats instead. Make sure your guests know the food policy, too!7. Holidays = stress, and not only for you!
Loud noises can easily overstimulate pets, too many guests, children if they’re not used to them, and even unfamiliar furniture arrangements (gotta make room for the Christmas tree!). Provide a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement (such as a crate, perching place, scratching post shelf, or hiding place) if you’re entertaining guests or things get uncomfortable for them. If your pet is excitable or scared, consider putting them in another room with some toys and a comfortable bed.
If you have a very nervous pet, ask your vet about natural remedies, like Rescue Remedy or CBD products.
Your furry family members deserve a pleasant holiday, too! Keep special treats on hand so they get to experience something new, and don’t forget to ask Santa to bring them a gift or two!
And for our neighbors, remember that The Pet Guardians are only a phone call away. We are booked for overnights, but let us know if you need us to drop in to care for and walk your pet while you’re at a friends and family event!
