Pets and the Holidays
The holidays are a busy time of celebration, connection, and change in routine. For pets, these changes can create new safety risks or added stress. Taking a few simple precautions can help ensure everyone is kept safe and comfortable this holiday season.
- Holiday Plants: Many popular holiday plants, including poinsettias, mistletoe berries, holly, and amaryllis, can cause illness if pets chew or ingest them. Keeping these plants out of reach or choosing pet-safe alternatives can help reduce the risk of accidental exposure. Learn more about toxic plants to pets.
- Decorations: Many decorations can be appealing, yet dangerous to pets. Be mindful of ornament hooks, tinsel, ribbon, and other items that are easily swallowed, as well as glass decorations that can break and cause injuries. Choosing pet-safe decorations and placing fragile items higher up can help prevent accidents.
- Holiday Lights: Use caution with lights and electrical cords, as they can attract curious pets. If you have a young and/or playful pet, it may be best to unplug any lights they could get access to when you’re not home to supervise. Before plugging lights back in, check cords for signs of chewing.
- Christmas Trees: Ensure your tree is securely set up and stabilized to minimize the risk of it tipping over and causing injury from any climbing cats or curious dogs.
- Real Trees: Water at the base of real trees may contain pine sap and preservatives that can result in diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite if consumed by a pet. Pine needles can also get lodged in a pet’s throat, posing a choking risk. Covering the tree base and regularly cleaning up fallen needles can help protect pets from digestive upset or choking hazards.
- Provide a Quiet Space: Holiday gatherings can be overwhelming for some pets. Providing a quiet, calm, comfortable space to retreat to can give your pet opportunities for rest and help to reduce stress and anxiety. Ensure the space gives your pet access to their food, water, bedding, litter box, and other items needed to stay safe and comfortable.
- Proper Identification: With all the activity over the holidays, pets often have more chances to slip outside. Ensure your pet is wearing proper identification and that their microchip or tattoo is up to date with your current contact information. This will help increase the chances of a safe and speedy return if they become lost.
- Table Scraps & Human Food: Many holiday foods are not suitable for pets and can cause serious health concerns. Feeding pets their regular diet and asking guests not to share food helps keep them healthy and avoids a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic. Learn more about foods to avoid feeding your pets.
- Presents: New items placed under the tree can be tempting for pets to explore. Storing gifts (especially ones with unknown contents or food items like chocolate) out of reach from unsupervised pets helps prevent accidental ingestion.
- Wrapping Paper & Ribbons: After presents are opened, wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows can become potentially dangerous toys to a playful pet. Promptly disposing, recycling or storing these items reduces the risk of choking or intestinal blockages.
