We want to include our fur family in the holiday festivities, but as you celebrate this holiday season, here are a few tips to insure your pet’s safety!
Holiday Plants to Be Aware of…. Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure and death in cats, if ingested.
Choosing Toys for You Pets Choose gifts that are safe is important. Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallow the pieces, which can then become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kong toys, for instance, can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible.
Cats love long, stringy things but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often resulting in surgery. Consider a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat toy. If your kitty has a long, stringy toy on his/her gift list, be sure it’s put in a safe place when you are finished playing with it!
Christmas Tree What’s more fun for a kitty than to climb an indoor tree? Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet, along with quite a mess to clean up! Tinsel attracts our feline friends and can be dangerous if ingested. Might be best to skip tinsel!
Feasting Caution We know not to feed our pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which a motivated fur kid will go eat something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food. Fatty, spicy foods as well as bones should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won’t lead to sickness and costly medical bills.
Fireplaces and Candles Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out! I opt for battery operated candles, sets us up for success! Cats especially are attracted to the movement in a fireplace, be certain yours has a covered screen to insure safe enjoyment!
Retreat Give your pet their own quiet, snuggly place to retreat to. Shy pups and cats might want to hide in their crate or in another room away from the festivities.
New Year’s Noise Did you know the busiest days at animal shelters is July 5 and January 1? Fireworks and noisy poppers can terrify animals and cause them to panic and flee. Not to mention the possible damage to their sensitive ears.
Wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season!
~Your friends at Affinity Pet Services
