Pets and Holiday Safety

The holidays can be both joyful and stressful for us and our pets.  Below is some information on how to keep them safe, calm, and healthy!  Thanks to Fear Free for the following information.

The holidays are filled with family, friends, food, and fun, but they can also pose threats to your pets and cause fear, anxiety, and stress. From poisonous plant decorations to not-so-safe sweets, the holidays can be a challenging time for furry family members. Follow these tips to help your furry friend safely enjoy all the holidays have to offer.

Skip the Sweets. While not all table scraps are bad for pets, (small amounts of lean, plain turkey, and basic mashed potatoes are okay for most), the dessert table should remain off-limits. From chocolate, which is well-known to be dangerous for dogs, to artificial sweeteners, holiday treats are best left for human consumption (in moderation, of course).

Pass on the Poisonous Plants. Although beautiful and festive, many decorative plants can be dangerous and sometimes deadly to pets. Poinsettias are just one example of flora that can cause severe stomach issues for pets. Additionally, mistletoe and holly can create aches, pains, and vomiting if ingested. To keep pets safe, opt for faux plants this year. Silver lining: You don’t have to worry about overwatering.

Set Up a Safe Space. From the guest list to the groceries, hosting a holiday party can be overwhelming — and not just for you. Pets are used to normal, day-to-day activities, so when family and friends begin filtering in and out of your home, pets can become anxious, scared, and protective of their surroundings. Give your pet a familiar space to be alone, such as your bedroom. Set up a comfy spot for them with their favorite toys, blankets, and treats so they feel safe amidst the holiday hustle and bustle.

Over the River and Through the Woods. If your holiday season involves travel, check with your veterinarian to make sure that your pet is up to date on their vaccinations well in advance of any trips or boarding.

Baby, It’s Too Cold Outside. It may seem like a simple solution to put your pet outside during holiday gatherings, but falling temperatures can put your pet’s health at risk. Check the weather forecast before leaving your pet outdoors for too long. Freezing temperatures can lead to circulation issues, frostbite, illness, and even death. Instead, set up a space for them indoors.

Careful Around Candles. Love to adorn your home with festive holiday decorations? Pay special attention to where you put candles, which animals can easily knock over with their long, wagging tails and cause a fire. That goes for fireplaces, too. While they may be warm and cozy, a blazing hearth is no place for pets.

That’s a Wrap. Wrapping gifts can turn into a production. Bows everywhere, ribbons unraveled from the roll, tape pieces stuck to tables, chairs, and couch cushions — it’s a messy job! Be sure to pick up carefully afterward to ensure your pets don’t get curious and chew or eat wrapping accessories that can turn into foreign bodies that require surgical removal. Many products contain harmful chemical adhesives that can hurt your pet’s stomach and cause irritation.

New Year’s Noise. Ringing in the new year can cause quite the commotion. From music to crowds to countdowns and fireworks, it’s safe to say New Year’s Eve is one of the louder holidays. If you’re hosting a party, make sure your pet steers clear of anxiety-inducing noise by keeping them in a safe space away from guests.

 Myth vs Mistake

Myth: Poinsettias

Contrary to popular belief, the popular Christmas plants, also known as flame leaf flower, Flower of Christmas Eve, and Crown of the Andes, aren’t deadly to pets.

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) produce a milky white resin that contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents. (Saponins are chemicals that have a foamy quality and are used in soaps, as well as other products.) Pets who take just a taste may experience mild irritation. In “more than a nibble” amounts (especially in the case of cats), the resin may irritate the stomach and intestines, causing vomiting, stomach pain, or other intestinal issues, such as diarrhea, but unless the signs are persistent or severe, there’s no call for a veterinary visit.

“Essentially, if you see them nibbling, don’t worry,” says veterinary toxicologist John Tegzes, VMD, professor of toxicology at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. “But do make sure you take it away from them and reward them when they don’t nibble on them. Or simply place them where pets can’t reach them easily.”

The takeaway: Poinsettias aren’t fragrant or tasty. In most cases, the worst they’ll cause is an upset tummy.

Mistake: Lilies and Mistletoe

Lilies pose much greater risk to cats (less so to dogs) than poinsettias, says veterinary toxicologist Justine Lee, DVM, with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Christmas, tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, day and Easter lilies are among the most toxic of the lily family.

“As little as two to three leaves or petals, even the pollen, can result in severe, acute kidney failure in cats,” Dr. Lee says. Any part of the lily plant, as well as the water in a vase that holds them, is potentially fatal to felines. Dogs, fortunately, develop only mild stomach upset from ingesting lilies, but prevention is always the wisest course.

What about kissing your pet beneath the mistletoe?

“Like poinsettias, American mistletoe [Phoradendron serotinum] has been rumored to be poisonous but thankfully it is only mildly toxic,” Lee says. “Its more dangerous cousin, European mistletoe [Viscum album], can be quite toxic to pets, however.”

The takeaway: Be sure you’re buying the right kind of mistletoe and hang it high out of reach where pets can’t chew on it.

Sometimes Myth, Sometimes Mistake

You come home to discover that Bailey discovered the box of chocolates on the coffee table and helped himself to an assortment of them. If he’s lucky or large, you might assume that what you heard about chocolate being toxic to dogs is a myth because he might not have shown any ill effects. But lots of factors come into play in how or whether chocolate affects dogs.

For instance, small dogs are at greater risk than large ones. Chocolate candy that also contains a lot of sugar, nuts, or other ingredients is less concerning than high-quality dark chocolate unadulterated with other ingredients. That’s because dark chocolate, from high-end eating bars to bittersweet chips to bitter-tasting baking chocolate, contains a much larger amount of theobromine—the chemical in chocolate that is toxic to dogs (but not humans). Milk chocolate has less theobromine, but it can be toxic in large enough amounts. One ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose in dogs.

How common are veterinary visits or ER runs for chocolate toxicity? Pet health insurance provider Nationwide reports that 21 percent of its yearly chocolate toxicity claims show treatment dates in December.

The takeaway: Dogs who are highly sensitive to theobromine or who ingest the more toxic dark forms of chocolate, such as cocoa powder or unsweetened baking chocolate, can die from cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthermia or respiratory failure. Dogs who eat chocolate candy may simply experience vomiting or diarrhea, which isn’t pleasant for them or the person cleaning up after them. When diarrhea must be treated, it can often be an expensive treatment.

Mistake: Ingestion of Foreign Objects

Holiday tinsel, gift wrap, and ribbon are often swallowed by curious pets this time of year. The long shape of each item causes dangerous complications. Other risks incurred by pets putting objects in their mouths include burns and electric shock from chewing holiday lighting cords and lacerations from chomping on glass ornaments or colorful light bulbs.

The takeaway: When pets bite down on or swallow foreign objects, it’s not just harmful to them but also to your wallet. Among pets insured by Nationwide, the average cost to remove a foreign object lodged in the intestine is $2,112 per pet. Treatment of a foreign object in the stomach costs an average of $959 per pet.

“Festive food and décor should be enjoyed this time of year but a little extra vigilance on the part of pet owners can go a long way to making sure holidays are safe and happy for everyone in the family,” says Dr. Jules Benson, Nationwide’s chief veterinary officer.