Decorating the house and tasty treats are just some of the fun things to look forward to during the holidays! It is important to remember and be cautious of decorations and table food that can potentially be harmful to our pets. Below are some of the most common hazards and how they can affect your pet.
Chocolate can be very toxic to pets and the darker and richer the chocolate, the higher the risk of toxicity. Pets may experience vomiting, diarrhea, urination, hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias, tremors and seizures depending on the amount ingested.
Bright and colorful ornaments may attract your pet’s curiosity. If chewed and swallowed, broken ornament pieces with sharp edges may lacerate your pet’s mouth, throat and intestines. Ornaments are also a choking hazard.
Tinsel is not particularly toxic, but can be attractive to curious pets. Once tinsel is consumed, it can cause serious injury to your pet by twisting and bunching around your pet’s intestines which could turn deadly.
Gift wrap ribbon poses a choking hazard to pets and ultimately could twist throughout the intestines, leading to emergency surgery or even death.
Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettias are popular holiday plants. Intestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea, excessive drooling, and abdominal pain are a few of the symptoms to watch for if your pet were to ingest one of these plants.
Holiday lights are particularly dangerous to pets that love to chew. Electrical shock may occur if a pet chomps down on an electrical cord, causing tongue laceration and possible death.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute becoming more and more popular in sugar free products. When ingested, xylitol affects how our pets release insulin and can be life-threatening. Symptoms to watch for include vomiting, weakness, incoordination or difficulty walking or standing, depression or lethargy, tremors, and seizures.
Candles are a serious burn hazard to pets and if knocked over they may leave a trail of hot wax that could easily burn a pet’s pads of their paws and more.