The holiday season has arrived and brings celebrations, presents and decorations. For pet owners the season also presents some common pet safety issues. There are many pet hazards to be aware of during the holidays, including specific types of plants, certain foods, and even decorations.
Chocolate is abundant during many holiday celebrations. It’s a great treat for humans, but for pets it is a well-known toxin. If ingested it can cause mild signs, such as vomiting and diarrhea, but can also cause more serious signs such as seizures and or death. The stronger the chocolate, the more serious the ingestion can be — eating baking cocoa is more serious than eating milk chocolate. Keep chocolate away from anywhere your pets may get it and call your veterinarian right away if your pet does eat some. They can generally help determine if the amount eaten will cause issues.
Grapes and raisins are used in many holiday recipes and if given to a pet can cause kidney failure or death. Make sure to not feed your pet any holiday sweets with raisins or grapes in them and remind your guests they are toxic to pets. The specific toxin in grapes has not been identified yet so any ingestion is cause for concern.
Tinsel is a common decoration used on many a Christmas tree. This shiny item can cause a problem if ingested, specifically in cats. The long thread type material looks like a toy to a cat and if the cat eats it, it can get stuck in the stomach or intestines, requiring emergency surgery.
Xylitol is a sugar alternative found in low-fat sweets, gums, peanut butter, and some recipes. Xylitol can cause an animal’s blood sugar to drop, which may make your pet have a seizure. It can also cause severe damage to the liver. Not all pets survive xylitol ingestion and those that do require intensive care and hospitalization.
There are many plants we see during the holidays that can cause issues with pets. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and cause kidney failure, so keep those out of their reach. Holly and mistletoe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in very rare cases, seizures and death. Poinsettias are actually not that toxic, despite the hype, and generally just cause mild GI upset. It is a good idea to keep plants in places where pets cannot get to them and chew them.
Some holiday hazards are overlooked, including open flames and electric cords. During the holiday season many people light multiple candles and put them in places pets, especially cats, can reach. If a pet comes into contact with an open flame fur can quickly catch fire, causing burns and potential lung damage. Consider keeping candles in places your pets cannot get to them or using decorative candle shades.
Many people will also use decorative lights inside and outside their house, which means there will be electrical cords in many places. Puppies and kittens are curious and may chew on them, which can cause fluid accumulation in the lungs from electric shock. Keep wires taped down and use protective cases when possible.
These are just a few of the holiday hazards facing our pets this season. If you have any concerns or questions about your pets and the holidays, please contact your veterinarian. If your pet eats something and you are not sure if it is toxic call your veterinarian office or poison control right away.
Erin Forbes, DVM, of Mountain View Animal Hospital, is a member of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 370 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.