Pet-Safe Holiday Food and Decorations
Celebrate this time of year with your dog or cat — but keep your pets safe by knowing about these seasonal hazards.
Being surrounded by the pets we love is one of the joys of the holiday season. If yours enjoys the excitement and the company, include him or her in the festivities while keeping them safe.
As a conscientous pet owner, you already know that certain foods pose a danger to pets’ health. Holiday decorations can also imperil. By being aware of these seasonal hazards, you can protect your pets from situations that cause harm.
Tasty & Toxic Treats
While we can handle the occasional overindulgence, pets shouldn’t have to. Many of the foods we love are toxic to them and can cause vomiting and diarrhea, or even stronger and life-threatening reactions.
Pet-safe treats for dogs include nibbles of yam, sweet potato, and canned pumpkin (as long as sugar and spice have not been added). They can also tolerate lean meat and fish, steamed vegetables, and a banana slice.
Cats with a good appetite rarely turn down paper-thin slices of cooked fish or chicken. And since most cats love catnip, it’s also a good gift.
For both dogs and cats, the list of foods to be avoided is longer. It includes grapes and raisins, chocolate, onion and garlic, raw eggs and meat, milk, salt, sugar, candy, alcohol, coffee and tea. The bottom line: If you’re not sure a treat is safe, ask a veterinarian before offering it to your pet.
Holiday Decorations
Do keep your pet in mind when planning to decorate your home for the holidays. If you’re putting up a Christmas tree, snip off the narrow bottom branches and keep tree water covered so your dog won’t be tempted to drink it. Tuck away electric wires and cables. Have a chewer in the house? Run a Q-tip dipped in Bitter Orange along exposed cords to discourage curious mouths.
Tinsel has also been responsible for many unfortunate emergency visits to veterinary hospitals. It can wind around the intestines of the animal who eats it, and surgery is usually required to remove it.
Hooks on ornaments and glass ornaments that break can cut tender mouths. And remember to position lit candles only in places where a pet can’t knock them over.
Plants that Poison
Green plants add color to winter holidays, yet they can spell danger to pets. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.”
Two of the most popular holiday plants, mistletoe and holly, are considered moderately to severely toxic. In addition, oil licked off the needles of a fir tree and the needles themselves can irritate a pet’s mouth and digestive tract, leading to drooling or vomiting.
To find out if a specific plant is safe or toxic to animals, check the ASPCA website. If you believe your pet has eaten something poisonous, contact your veterinarian or call the HomeAgain Emergency Medical Hotline for assistance.