The holidays are a time for family, giving and celebration. It can be a happy time for all members of the family — including pets.
But there are also a host of new people, decorations and food in your pet’s environment that can put him at risk.
“While the holidays are a time of celebration, for pets, many of our traditions pose hazards,” said Orange County Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kate Connell, owner of Calmer Canines pet training.
For starters, many common holiday foods can pose risks for pets. Connell said corn on the cob — both decorative and edible types — are choking hazards for dogs. Plus, she said many seasonings that are often used around this time of year — including bay leaf, sage and nutmeg — can be toxic to both dogs and cats in larger quantities.
“Walnuts, macadamia nuts, chocolate, grapes/raisins/currants, and sugar-free candies and desserts — especially those containing xylitol — can all be deadly in even very small amounts,” she said. “Raw yeast dough expands in the stomach and causes the life-threatening condition referred to as bloat. Cooked bones can splinter and impale your pet from the inside, and dairy products, fat trimmings/drippings and high-sodium foods can cause pancreatitis and worse. Alcohol is also dangerous.”
Other risks include ingestion of holiday-type plants like poinsettia, mistletoe, holly, amaryllis, lilies, daffodils and fir trees. She said they can be toxic to dogs and cats, causing symptoms ranging from drooling and vomiting to seizures, and even death. Connell said that the preservatives, pesticides and fertilizers added to these plants (plus any molds they may carry) are often just as toxic or even more so than the plants themselves.
When it comes to decor, holiday lights can pose both a strangulation and electrocution risk for pets, she said. Pets can be poisoned from drinking Christmas tree water sitting at its base or ingesting flocking on trees. Ornaments can become choking hazards, as well —especially glass ball ornaments, which dogs can mistake for toys.
Considering the long list of potential dangers, it’s easy for holiday cheer to turn into holiday fear. But fortunately there are also prevention tips Connell offers pet owners to help protect pets.
Toss the tinsel. “Don’t use flocking or tinsel on your tree — no exceptions,” she said.
Cover it up. “Use a covered water dish for the tree and only use plain water — which is all it needs, just keep it full,” she said. “Put an exercise pen around your tree, and/or place it on a table to prevent your dog from choking on ornaments, and avoid ball-like ornaments if your dog is ball-obsessed.” Try placing lights only on the top half of you tree, while covering the wiring with tape and a tree skirt, and regularly checking for signs of chewing.
Get fake plants. “Keep holiday plants out of reach or outside where your pets can’t access them, or choose synthetic versions,” she said.
Keep doors closed. “You may need to put signs on doors to remind guests to close doors fully, and be sure that everyone knows to let the pet approach them on their own terms instead of approaching the pet — although guests can invite the pet over by patting their legs and saying the pet’s name,” she said. Make sure your pet is wearing his collar with an ID, including up-to-date contact information, in case someone lets him out accidentally.
Create a safe space. “Make sure the pet has a quiet place — crate, exercise pen, gated bathroom, cat tree, etc. — in another room where they can chill out without being overstimulated, and so that they can be kept calm at meal times,” she said.
Say no to table scraps. “Ensure friends and family members do not feed table scraps and that no one leaves down bones, fat drippings and trimmings, cooking twine and foil, corn cobs, alcohol, desserts, etc.,” she said. Connell added that it’s a good idea to de-bone meats before serving them to guests so that they don’t have bones on their plates. “Ideally, invest in trash cans with locking lids or turn step-pedal trash cans backwards so that your dog cannot step on it to open it,” she said. “If you have a trash can that opens automatically with the wave of your hand, make sure that you disable that function for the day since there will be extra-tempting scraps.”
By Jessica Peralta
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