Protecting Your Pets From The Holidays!
Everyone loves the holidays, and our dogs and cats can't help but get caught up in how excited we are. The good cheer, the holiday decorations and all the guests that will soon arrive are easy to get caught up in. That said, there is no reason this shouldn't be a joyous season for pets as well. But with the new festive decorations we will soon have around the house there are new risks, too. If this was a late-night news show, I might have given this article a more sensational title, like "Secret Holiday Dangers: Are Your Pets at Risk?" Although I don't take such a scary tone, the consequences are no less serious and worth writing about. And in my travels and conversations I have discovered that most pet owners don't know at least 1 of these simple holiday safety tips. So being a pet owner myself it's time to shed some much-needed "holiday light" to this important subject.
Honestly, as much as I thought I was prepared for having a dog during the holidays, Corky still experienced some of these below and lucky for me I was able to learn from my experiences but you should not have to. Perhaps the best gift you can give your family is to ensure you will have your beloved dog or cat well past the New Year!
1. Tinsel:
Avoid using tinsel on the Christmas tree or in other locations. Tinsel can cause intestinal obstructions in a dog or cat. Caution should also be used when placing garland in the home as a holiday decoration. Both these types of decorations are incredibly tempting, especially when they sway in the breeze. And yes, one year Corky once ate her way around the bottom of the tree branches while I wasn't looking...it wasn't pretty afterwards, believe me. Maybe she thought she was flossing her teeth?
2. Mistletoe:
Mistletoe, holly berries and some Christmas trees (cedar) can be toxic to dogs, cats, birds and even children! And even non-toxic plants can cause quite an upset stomach if ingested by a dog or cat, so keep even "safe" plants well out of the reach of cats, dogs and other pets all year round.
3. Tree:
The Christmas tree poses its very own danger. Cats may try to climb the Christmas tree, causing the tree to tip and fall, breaking glass ornaments and light bulbs in the process. Cat owners should either keep the tree in an area that is off-limits to the cat when a human is not present to supervise, or consider tethering the tree using a bit of wire and some strategically placed eyehooks. For dog owners, you may find they like to hide out under the tree, so their constant in-and-out might cause the tree to shake and move, and if it's not stable it could tip over.
4. Christmas Tree Water:
Tree fertilizer can leak into the water in the tree-holder. This will make dogs and cats very ill if they decide it's a good place to help their thirst. Similarly, adding anything to the water to extend the life of the tree (aspirin, for example) will also make this water off limits to animals. Best bet: get a tree skirt right away, or if that doesn't deter your pet you might need to switch to an artificial tree instead.
5. Glass Ornaments:
Pet owners should also avoid using glass ornaments on their Christmas trees, as this can pose a hazard to dogs, cats and humans if the glass ornaments are knocked off the tree and break. Corky can't tear herself away from batting her little paws at the shine coming off the reflective surfaces. I've seen many excited dogs during the holiday season wipe off entire branches of decorations in a single excited tail-wag. If glass Christmas tree ornaments cannot be avoided-or have sentimental value-place the breakable ornaments on the higher tree limbs.
6. Candles:
Candles or the menorah can pose a danger to pets, especially if unattended. The cat may wander too close to the flame, resulting in burns. Or a playful dog may bump into a table and knock a candle over, starting a fire. Best bet: keep them up high. Better: Make the small investment in the battery-operated tea lights for use in all the lower decorations.
7. Candy, Cookies, and Chocolate:
You probably already know from experience that placing food down near pet-height can be too tempting for them. But your guests may not be as aware, so be extra-vigilant. My recommendation: this is a fun job for the kids; all they have to be told is to keep an eye on the dog and make sure she doesn't eat any of the guest's food. (As opposed to being asked to make sure Auntie Gladys doesn't set food down, or else the kids might think they need to scold your guests instead of restraining the dog.) If a gift contains a food item, like gourmet chocolates, a dog is going to know exactly what's inside - the dog's nose always knows! So if a wrapped gift is placed under the Christmas tree, this provides the dog with an opportunity to "open" the holiday gift before December 25. Corky used to sniff out anything "yummy"-including fragrances-and then chew on the boxes and the contents. Nothing was excluded from her investigating. (And you can imagine my embarrassment after so proudly wrapping a gift in my signature style to have to explain to the recipient why it looked so mangled.) She once managed to open a box of 48 individually wrapped chocolates...and ate every one. The carefully opened wrappers were strewn around the tree. It must have taken her hours; talk about inventive and persistent! So before placing a present under the Christmas tree, always ask the gift giver if the contents include a food item that may attract unwanted attention from the dog.
8. Table Scraps:
Around Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, well-intentioned owners feed their dogs fatty foods and even fat trimmings, which cause a potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas. Even if you know to not do this, your guests may not be able to avoid the temptation of rewarding "those sad little eyes." Also avoid feeding fatty food and large quantities of a new food, as this can cause diarrhea or vomiting in dogs and cats.
9. "Open-House" Means Open Doors:
As guests enter and exit the home for Christmas visits or a New Year's Eve party, this provides an opportunity for dogs, cats, and birds to escape, so all pets should be secured when holiday guests are expected. Corky never bolts beyond the driveway, but this isn't true for all pets. Especially if you have several people over at one time, the more exciting and loud the group gets the more tempting it might be for animals to flee. (Sometimes I can't blame them! Hmm, maybe that's a good excuse to get away from the next boring party you're at: "Sorry, have to step out for some fresh air-I thought I saw the dog running away!")
And lastly, my personal plea: No pets as gifts! Please. The momentary joy your family or child will feel are insignificant compared to the risk the animal will linger in neglect and boredom. Pets are a tremendous addition to any household, and their health is as important as the other members of your household. Enjoy them and protect them!
I hope this holiday season if fill with love, joy and safety not just for you but for your four-legged pets as well. Happy holidays now mean to me "Happy Everything", as we have so much more to be grateful for than just the holidays. "Our health"!
And there you have it!
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