Keeping Your Pets Safe At Christmas

How do we keep our pets safe at Christmas? Christmas is that magical time of year where families and friends get together and celebrate the festivities with lots of food and drink. It’s a time when we loosen our belts and perhaps become more generous with our portion sizes and treats. This can also filter through to our pets.

Without realising, many of us have, I’m sure at some point given a cheeky piece of cake or that leftover slice of meat to our four-legged family members. These little treats can actually put your pet at risk. 

There is a lot more temptation this time of the year with new smells filling the house. It’s extremely hard for a pet to resist so it is up to us as pet owners to look after our loved ones. 

To keep your pets safe at Christmas, below is a list of some of the more common festive foods to be aware of: 

Mince pies

Contain grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas which are toxic to dogs. They can lead to kidney failure and in some cases death. If you feel like your dog might be missing out on a Christmas mince pie you could make your own using their own dog food. 

Chocolate 

A delicious treat for humans but not so much for cats and dogs. Chocolate is toxic to both, there are so many alternatives you can buy in-store or online, not having to risk the lives of your pets. 

Onion Gravy 

This one may surprise some, onion gravy can harm your pet’s stomach and make them very ill. 

Cheese

Cheese boards tend to invite the more exotic cheeses into the house at Christmas. These can cause damage, especially blue cheese which produces toxins that cause rapid onset convulsions in dogs. 

Turkey bone

We might think giving a dog a bone is a nice gesture, especially as they are refused all the delicious dishes coming from the kitchen. However, this is a very dangerous move. 

Turkey bone has been known to get lodged in the throat and splinter, causing damage to the throat and mouth. In some cases, the bone has pierced through the intestines. 

Alcohol

Cats and dogs may help themselves to any unattended alcohol which can lead to low sugar levels and in some cases a coma. Keeping drink and food that contains alcohol in a safe place is advised.

Keep to a routine this Christmas

It’s not just foods and alcohol that pose a risk for your pets during the festive season. Cats and dogs like routine and this can often be overlooked, leaving your pet to try and adapt to the disruption. As pet owners, it is our duty to do all we can to make them comfortable throughout the holiday. 

Try not to change their food, exercise and bedtimes, keeping things consistent will help them to feel more secure.

If you have a busy house, don’t force your cat or dog into a meeting situation because they may not be ready. Let them figure this out on their own terms. It is also important to create an area that they can retreat to. For some downtime, away from the hustle and bustle.  Leave their favourite toys in this area to remind them of positive experiences. 

If you are visiting other households with your pets. It might be a good idea to take a favourite toy or blanket with a familiar smell to make them feel secure. The toy is a great way to distract and keep them entertained. If you are staying with your family for a few nights. It might be a good idea to put a calming diffuser in the house ahead of your dog or cats arrival. 

For some, this might be their pets first Christmas so preparation is key and can avoid many accidents. Kittens and puppies should be supervised at all times. They can be extremely curious and full of energy because this is all new to them. 

Keep ornaments and decorations out of reach

It’s difficult to get through Christmas without adding colour and a bit of sparkle to your home. However, like small humans, our pets like to touch and feel things. It’s very tempting for a cat or dog when a shiny colourful bauble catches the reflection of light or rolls across the floor. A smashed bauble can do some damage to their delicate paws if it shatters leaving sharp edges on the ground. 

As well as baubles being harmful, salt dough covered decorations and anything made from paper or foil can cause damage if ingested. Along with wrapping paper which dogs, in particular, seem to have a fondness for. Keep an eye out for small sachets of silica gel which is often found in packaging, although it is low toxicity it’s best to avoid.  

Cats on the other hand, although they will still eat paper they are more likely to play with ribbons from gifts. If not careful these can be swallowed causing the intestine to be twisted. 

Tinsel, you either love or hate it. If you are a fan of the sparkling strips of colour then you must also be aware of the dangers it may cause to your pet. It has often been suggested to use as a toy to distract your pet with. Unfortunately, tinsel like angel hair is not a toy and should be kept out of reach. This shiny plastic can cause blockages.

Our curious cats love nothing more than a tree light. This can become quite the Christmas challenge that you were perhaps not expecting. If chewed, the lights can cause burns, strangulation, fire, and electrocution. When placing lights on your tree or around the house, make sure you have a good view to avoid misfortune.

Watch out for that Christmas tree

Another thing to consider is your Christmas tree, cats love to climb them, especially if they are in the playful kitten stage. There is nothing more devastating than a tree full of decorations falling to the floor. Making sure it is secure would be one way to avoid this from happening. Cats don’t learn from their mistakes, especially as the tree only comes out once a year. 

Trees taken from the wild are often kept in a bucket of water to keep them alive throughout the month. If you have a new pup then be aware of the water you are feeding your tree because this can be very toxic. Standing water can build up bacteria which can harm your pet. If possible use nontoxic, pet-safe additives to avoid a trip to the vet.

To keep your pets safe at Christmas, below is a list of seasonal plants to be aware of: 

Holly 

The berries on a holly plant, a staple bite for birds, can cause upset stomachs in cats and dogs. Drooling, lip-smacking and head shaking are some of the effects this plant may have. 

Ivy

This is another plant that can cause stomach upset and skin irritation with prolonged contact. 

Poinsettia

A very popular plant this time of the year should be kept out of reach for both cats and dogs. Their beautiful red leaves are mildly toxic to our pets. If ingested they can cause drooling, irritation to the mouth and stomach and in some cases vomiting. 

Mistletoe

Mistletoe may be associated with love around the festive period but unfortunately, this doesn’t include our pets. This plant is a parasite that is known to suck all the nutrients from trees in order to maintain its lush green colour. It can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulties breathing which may result in death.

Lilies

Both the plant and the water they are placed in are poisonous to cats. They can still harm dogs but not to the same extent as a cat. 

The idea of creating gorgeous smells of Christmas throughout the home with real trees and fresh flowers are wonderful but also demanding of time that can be precious during this busy period. Quite often we use candles and potpourris to recreate those festive scents, these too have their own dangers to animals. 

Potpourri can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if your cat or dog eats it and candles unless they are pet-friendly carry toxins that may affect your pet.

Knowing you have prepared your pets for the festivities, you can enjoy the season without any worries. 

Below is a list of treats and  activities you can enjoy with your beloved:

Family Christmas cards, which could include the whole family or maybe your pet can be the star of the show. 

Bake a seasonal treat, it could be a treat for your dog, cat, rabbit or maybe it’s a reindeer treat made up from a mixture of seeds for Ruldoph and his outdoor friends on Christmas Eve.

Walking to see the Christmas lights or through the neighbourhood to see the seasonal decorations in their new Christmas coat. 

Playing with a festive holiday toy to get them and you in the spirit. 

If it’s too cold outside then maybe a meet up with other dog friends in the dog park for some treats and a play.