Winter holidays are a busy time for the nation’s vets. That’s because holiday pet hazards overlooked by busy owners can spell disaster for your dog, cat, or other pets.
Even if you’re the ultra-careful type, keep the contact number for your vet handy, suggested Jim Cook, DVM, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and a practicing veterinarian in Lebanon, Ky.
Next, check how savvy you are about the top ten holiday pet hazards—and how to reduce the risks.
Holiday Hazard #1: Chocolate
Any chocolate is off-limits for pets. “Baker’s chocolate is the most [toxic],” Cook said. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to pets. Theobromine and caffeine are the toxic ingredients. Click here for other foods that are toxic to your pet.
Holiday Hazard # 2: The Tree
Curious dogs may sniff and paw and pull the tree over on themselves; cats like to get up and try out this strange indoor tree. Anchor it, Cook said. You can use wire to secure the top of the tree, then run the wire up to the ceiling or the wall and secure it.
Watch out, too, for the tree preservative often put in the water around the tree trunk, so your dog or cat doesn’t lap it up. It can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Holiday Hazard #3: Seasonal Plants
Poinsettias get the bad rap as the most poisonous when actually they are fairly low on the toxic scale. But eating them may still cause some gastrointestinal upset, according to the journal Veterinary Technician.
Other problematic holiday plants to keep out of reach: Christmas cactus, mistletoe, holly, cedar, balsam, and pine.
Holiday Hazard #4: Table Scraps
Rich, fatty foods are often holiday favorites, but they can result in life-threatening pancreatitis, Cook said. Anything salty, spicy, or greasy qualifies. Bones from chicken or turkey can splinter in the stomach. Keep table scraps out of reach, and be sure the garbage isn’t accessible to your pet.
Holiday Hazard #5: Ornaments
Tinsel can be too fascinating for a cat to pass up as a snack. Small decorations hanging low on the tree can be gobbled by both dogs and cats, and intestinal blockage can result.
