When planning everything you need to tackle for the holiday season, don’t forget to add pet safety preparation to your list. Holiday hazards abound during the end-of-year festivities and can cause significant harm to your unsuspecting pet. Make your pet holiday safety list and check it twice with the help of our Aberdeen Veterinary Clinic team’s checklist.

❑ Avoid unhealthy holiday foods

The holidays are a season of indulgence, and many of the dishes that overload the dining room table not only are less than healthy, but they also can be downright toxic for your pet. Keep your pet out of the kitchen, ban them from begging, and secure your trash to ensure they can’t get their paws on the following dangerous foods:

  • Ham
  • Turkey skin and drippings
  • Mashed potatoes and gravy
  • Corn on the cob
  • Yeast dough
  • Onions, garlic, and chives
  • Grapes, raisins, and currants
  • Chocolate
  • Xylitol

❑ Don’t give your pet a bone

The bone from your Christmas ham or a turkey drumstick may seem like the perfect treat to entertain your pet while you carry on with your celebration. However, meat bones in raw or cooked form are exceptionally dangerous to pets, because they can fracture teeth, splinter apart, or become lodged in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Give your furry pal a pet-safe chew or toy to gnaw on instead.

❑ Be careful with cocktails

Pets are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol than people and can be poisoned after ingesting a much smaller amount. Be careful when pouring and serving cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, as small spills can spell big trouble for your pet.

❑ Fill stockings with care

Whether you’re filling your children’s stockings or one for your pet, avoid putting food items in them and leaving them unattended. Your pet’s powerful nose may sniff out chocolate, biscuits, or chews stuffing the stockings, and they could help themself while everyone is nestled snug in their beds. Add tasty treats to stockings at the last minute, or hang them well out of reach to keep them safe from your pet.

❑ Secure the tree

The tree is a tantalizing decoration to pets, since it is such an unusual object to place in your home. Your curious pet may be intrigued by the piney scent, prickly needles, and bowl of water at the base, which can end in catastrophe if the tree crashes to the floor after being investigated too exuberantly. Ensure your tree remains upright by blocking your pet’s access or securing it with fishing line to a nearby support.

❑ Avoid dangerous ornaments

If your pet manages to explore your tree’s decor, they may bat at glass ornaments, nibble on salt dough discs, or prick themself with a metal ornament hook. Avoid hanging ornaments that can be hazardous to your pet and stick to soft or unbreakable items that are hung without sharp hooks.

❑ Toss the tinsel

Cats are attracted to ribbons, tinsel, garland, yarn, and all sorts of strings, much to their detriment. If ingested, a string can become wrapped around your cat’s tongue and bunch up within their intestines, causing a type of obstruction known as a linear foreign body. As the intestines continue to contract, the string can saw through the intestinal walls, spilling the contents and causing sepsis. Refrain from decorating with any sort of string-like tinsel or garland to keep your cat safe.

❑ Hide the wires

Electrical wires may crisscross your home to provide power to all of your decorations, but your pet may see these lines as chew toys. Avoid a shocking surprise by using cord covers or running wires behind furniture or out of reach.

❑ Check festive flora toxicity

While poinsettias aren’t nearly as poisonous as people believe, they can cause mild GI upset if ingested. More dangerous holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, yew, and lilies. Before brightening your home with any festive flora, check the ASPCA’s list of toxic plants.

❑ Block access to flames

Flickering flames are mesmerizing to watch and can draw a curious pet in too close, leading to singed whiskers, burnt paws, or even a house fire. Avoid leaving lighted candles within your pet’s reach, and always use a fireplace screen when enjoying a fire to keep your furry pal safe.

❑ Create a quiet sanctuary

Whether your party guests become rowdy or festive fireworks are booming overhead, celebratory noises can overwhelm your furry pal. Set your pet up with an off-limits hideout where they can curl up on a plush bed, snack on their favorite treat, and relax while listening to classical tunes or white noise.

While a safety checklist is great for helping ensure your furry pal stays out of trouble, your best-laid plans may still go awry. If your pet sniffs out a holiday hazard, give our Aberdeen Veterinary Clinic team a call for help.