We all love the holidays; time with family and friends, decorating, gift-giving, and baking. But there are a few holiday things that aren't so good for our four-legged family members.

So a few things to be aware of and use caution:

  1. Electric lights and cords: Many young animals love to chew on these - they have a good "mouth feel." The best way to avoid this happening is to tuck them away or put them inside cord holders (I personally like toilet paper tubes to fold cords in). Sometimes electrocution in pets isn't recognized. There might be burns around the mouth or labored breathing from fluid building up in the lungs. This is an emergency that needs to be seen ASAP here or at an emergency clinic. holiday pet safety
  2. Cords, ribbons, and strings: Cats especially think this is a wonderful toy. However, if the string is swallowed, it can cause the intestines to wrinkle up, and then the cord can saw through the lining of the intestines. If you were just wrapping gifts and a few days later, your kitty ( and possibly your doggie) starts vomiting, loses its appetite, and becomes lethargic, bring them in to see us. Be sure to let us know if string might be an issue, as we usually have to perform surgery to save their life, and we want to be sure to get to the correct diagnosis as quickly as possible.
  3. Poisons: Lillies are very bad for cats; poinsettias are moderately bad and can upset the pet's stomach; mistletoe can cause problems with the heart and GI tract. Chocolate can also cause heart issues, especially dark chocolate and baker's chocolate. With chocolate, the smaller your dog, the greater the toxicity. Grapes and raisins can be fatal to some dogs, but not all. We don't know why some dogs and not others which is why we suggest no grapes or raisins. Sterno starter logs for fireplaces can also be very toxic. Finally, be careful if visiting friends and relatives who are taking medications that your pets can't get into them. If you suspect your pet has eaten something bad, call Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435, then call us for help getting the poison out of your pet and giving antidotes or treatment as needed.
  4. Rich or unusual foods: We all love to spoil our pets with the goodies we have been cooking. While a small amount of bland meat usually is tolerated without incident, very rich foods, spicy foods, and foods very different from your pet's usual diet can cause inflamed intestines and, even more concerning, pancreatitis.
  5. A general winter caution is that dogs need to be in a good shelter when the temperature gets below 45 degrees and needs a warmed shelter or to be inside when the temperatures are below freezing.
  6. And this is just common sense, but in the bustle of guests arriving, be sure to secure your dog from escape. Cars on the road do not play nicely with our pets. Every year we have a pet owner who faces tragedy when their well-behaved dog decides this one time to make a dash out the door.