Toxic Christmas Tree Water and Other Holiday Pet Dangers You Never Knew About
Whether you’re hosting a massive Thanksgiving dinner or planning to spend New Year’s Eve cuddling this year, your home is likely to be the setting for at least some of your vacation plans. You may be thinking about how to maximize your hosting options to please the people entering your space, but you shouldn’t forget about your pets this season either. Their comfort and safety is important, but the holiday season can be tough for them. Here are some seasonal pet safety tips beyond the ones you already know, such as keeping them away from burning candles.
Holiday decor can be dangerous for pets
Videos of cats climbing trees are funny as long as they’re not . Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but some holiday decorations are more dangerous for your pets than others.
According to the ASPCA , the first thing to do is make sure your tree is securely anchored so it won’t fall if your cat decides to climb it or your dog goes crazy and stumbles into it at night. If this seems like a matter of course, then it is not: reconsider the water base that keeps your tree fresh. It may contain fertilizers or chemicals that can be harmful if your pet drinks them. Stagnant water on trees can also harbor bacteria that can cause your pet to feel sick or have diarrhea. Neither your pet nor your guests will like it.
Tinsel is also a risk, especially for cats who love to hit and chew on it. Swallowing tinsel can lead to blockage of the digestive tract, vomiting, dehydration, or possibly even surgery.
Keep light wires out of the reach of pets, as they can shock any animal that nibbles on them. If you don’t approve of the plug-in, be aware that punctured batteries can burn your mouth and esophagus.
Finally, if you have a fireplace and a dog, be careful with fire logs, says the Society for the Humane. They can contain sawdust and paraffin, which can irritate a dog’s stomach or even cause intestinal blockage when eaten. Here’s a helpful guide to finding good, pet-safe firewood .
Festive Food Your Pets Should Never Eat
You’re probably already trying to curb your dog’s begging at lunchtime, but the holiday season calls for a lot of food, most of which you don’t get all year round, let alone your hungry dog. According to the Humane Society, resist the urge to literally throw your dog the bone from your holiday ham or turkey. It may seem harmless, but chewing can cause the bones to crack, and your pet is at risk of choking or intestinal injury. Here are a few other holiday foods you may not have known your dog shouldn’t eat:
- green onion
- Anything with citric acid or pit
- eggs
- Fish
- Garlic
- Leaves and stems
- nuts
- Onions (including flakes and powder)
- Meat
- Salt
If you’re planning on having a Seven Fish Feast this year, keep your dog in another room and don’t feed him any of the big food. It’s not worth the risk.
Plants
The Humane Society says chewing on the Christmas tree might be a bad idea for pets, as they can eat the needles, which can cause, you guessed it, intestinal blockage. Needles can pierce the intestinal mucosa or get stuck there and cause a blockage, neither of which is pleasant, and both can be very dangerous. You can avoid this risk by purchasing an artificial Christmas tree or keeping your pet away from the real one.
The ASPCA also notes that if your pet eats holly, they may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Mistletoe can lead to gastrointestinal upset or even cardiovascular disease. Finally, lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.