The holiday season offers great opportunities for celebrating with loved ones,
and for many families, that includes their dogs and cats. However, holiday foods,
guests and decorations can pose health risks for pets and the hustle and bustle
may be overwhelming.

To help keep your pet safe amid the chaos, consider avoiding these potential
hazards.

Decorations
Making your holiday decorations Pet-proof takes a little effort but is well worth it
in the long run. If you put up a tree (live or artificial), ensure it’s set up securely so
as not to tip or fall and use shatter-proof ornaments, ideally hung above tail
height and out of paws’ reach. If you have kittens less than 1 year old in your
home, extra care is needed to prevent them from climbing up the tree and
creating a minor disaster. Hang smaller ornaments toward the top of the tree to
reduce potential choking hazards and tinsel as it can become lodged in a pet’s
gut and cause issues. No one likes to spend Christmas Eve in the Pet ER
removing tinsel or small ornaments from a pet’s intestines!
Additionally, consider battery-operated candles instead of real ones, which can
be easily knocked over by curious pets and burn them or lead to more serious
fire risks. Dangling cords from seasonal decor can also appeal to pets, and if
chewed while plugged in could result in electrical shock or burn to the tongue, so
secure them out of sight and unplug when not in use.

Food
With the holidays comes a delicious variety of baked goods, chocolate
confections and other rich foods. However, some of those seasonal goodies can
present problems for pets. Most pet owners are aware that chocolate and cocoa
contain theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine that’s highly toxic to both
dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but
large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.
Other traditional holiday mainstays such as fruitcakes, breads and cookies that
contain grapes, raisins or currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Sugarless
gums and candies may contain xylitol, a natural sweetener, which can cause
serious conditions like dangerously low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs.
Leftover fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas
(pancreatitis), leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Plants
Although live trees are non-toxic, their needles do not digest well, and their water
may contain bacteria, mold or fertilizer that should not be ingested. Additionally,
poinsettias, which often have a bad reputation among pet owners, can cause
upset stomachs if the leaves are ingested though it’s typically milder than the
symptoms associated with holly, mistletoe and amaryllis. Daffodils, lilies and
narcissi are also toxic to pets.

Guests
An increase in visitors, ringing of the doorbell and extra excitement of the holiday
season can be stressful for pets. A slow and cautious introduction of visiting pets
is absolutely necessary to prevent scuffles and never feed visiting pets with your
pets. It is a pet’s natural instinct to protect their food at all costs. Try to keep your
four-legged friend’s feeding and exercise schedule as regular as possible and
make time for additional stress-relieving playtime and snuggles. To help avoid
overstimulation, it may be best to keep your pets in their own crates or a quiet
room with food, water and comfortable bedding while you have company. If you
need additional assistance, consult with your veterinarian.

Travel
Holiday travel with your four-legged family members requires some extra packing
and precautions. If traveling by car, make sure your pet is safely restrained using
a secure harness or carrier and placed away from any airbags. Make sure pets
are microchipped and their registration is up to date in case you become
separated. Never leave pets alone in a vehicle or transport them in the bed of a
truck. Also be sure you have updated health certificates from your veterinarian, if
required by any states you will visit or pass through, and pack copies of medical
records, first aid supplies, food and medications, leashes, collars and favorite
toys. Often simply boarding your pet at a reputable boarding kennel may be the
simplest solution.