If the rest of the year is any indicator, more people will be traveling to visit relatives over the holiday season. It’s a great time for get-togethers, but also the time when the routines are interrupted and there is less vigilance when it comes to what the pets are getting into.
Before company comes over, do a visual sweep of your home.
- The Nature Stuff: If you brought in a Christmas tree, boughs, pine needles, holly, plants, florals and more, have you checked with the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants to make sure that they won’t hurt dogs or cats if one of your little guys is tempted to taste? Put whatever you can up high so they can’t be reached. Don’t put any additives in the water basin for the tree. Cover the basin with foil, too, so it won’t tempt your pets.
- The Fake Stuff: Plastic ornaments and decorations, gift bags and trash bags, gift wrap, ribbons, glitter, glass ornaments, and ornament hangers, tinsel. Any of these, if swallowed, can require an emergency trip to the vet. String and ribbon are the most critical, as they can get tangled in the gut. It’s best to keep your pets out of the room as everyone is opening gifts, until all of the wrap and ribbons can be removed.
- The Smelly Stuff: Candles, open air fragrances, incense or essential oils, if not put up high out of reach, can cause burns, or in the case of incense, potpourri or essential oils, be fatal if swallowed.
- The Electrical Stuff: Plugged in wires carry live electricity. If your dog or cat chews on a cord, they could become electrocuted. Try to keep all electrical wires off the floor, or if you must, cover them with rubber electrical covers. Dogs are sometimes prone to “taste” and possibly swallow small batteries, resulting in the immediate need to go to an emergency vet for surgery to have them removed. It’s better to keep your dog out of the room while people are opening gifts that may require adding batteries to make them work.
- The Yummy Stuff – Food!: Bones, chocolate, alcohol, anything with xylitol, raisins, and more. Typically a party has food laid out for the entire duration. This needs to be high enough that your dog can’t reach them. Cats should take the afternoon off in a closed back bedroom while the food is out. The other area of concern is the trash can, where bones and leftovers are beckoning. Please put out dinner discards as soon as possible. Keep the kitchen door closed to your dog if possible.
If you have any questions about your pet possibly swallowing anything, to be on the safe side, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at 888-426-4435, or call your nearest emergency veterinary clinic.
Make plans now to train your dog how to stay calm among visitors. Appoint each pet an ‘angel’ family member to watch over them, make sure they don’t get into trouble, feed and walk them as needed. Or like the cats, prepare a back room resting area for your dog to enjoy the time peacefully away from so much temptation, so that everyone can have happy holiday memories.
Heron’s Crossing provides end-of-life care for pets in the Metro Atlanta area. In-home appointments with compassionate vets are available. If you’d prefer a home-like setting away from your home, our Decatur office is also available by appointment.