Holiday Safety for Pets

Holidays can be a dangerous and nerve-wracking time for household pets, with the food, guests, and excitement of the time of year. Please take efforts to be vigilant and keep an eye on your pets during the stressful holiday seasons.

Guests

Frequently Opened Front Door - With the constant coming and going of guests during the holiday season, make sure your pets don’t run out the front door. Put signs up to remind guests to watch out for pets.

Festive Guests - Especially on Halloween, pets can be easily frightened by visitors in strange costumes. They may be inclined to protect their home or owner from these scary people.

Decorations

Christmas Trees - Make sure to secure the Christmas tree so it can’t fall on your pet. Keep ornaments, tinsel, and lights out of reach of cats and dogs because they can be dangerous if swallowed.

Holiday Plants - Whether it is a Christmas wreath or a Valentine’s bouquet, be aware that certain plants are toxic to household pets.

Dangerous Decorations - Pets like to chew on and swallow various decorations, so keep your eye on animals around things like Easter eggs and candles.

Foods

Chocolate & Candy - All chocolate products are dangerous to pets, even in small amounts. The artificial sweetener known as xylitol, found in a number of candies and sweets, as well as some peanut butters, is also extremely toxic to dogs.

Turkey - Turkey is found at many holiday gatherings, especially Thanksgiving, and few people know it is dangerous for pets. Turkey and its skin can cause pancreatitis, especially in smaller dogs.

Yeast Dough & Baked Goods - Raw yeast dough is poisonous to dogs, and yeast can be found in breads and other baked goods.

Alcohol - Curious pets can find the smell of alcoholic drinks intriguing, but they are dangerous for pets to ingest.

Fireworks

Keep Pets Indoors - Fireworks frighten many pets to the point of running away, so keeping pets indoors is the easiest way to keep them safe.

Update Their Microchip & Tags - In case your pet does get lost or disoriented in the chaos of fireworks, make sure they have ID tags and an up-to-date microchip to help with a safe and easy return home.

Talk to Your Vet - For extremely nervous pets, there are veterinary options for helping them to calm down during fireworks. Always consult your veterinarian before trying any household medication to calm your pet.

Distract Your Pet - Keeping your pet in a windowless room, with music or TV playing loudly can help to distract them from the fireworks outside. Pets benefit from the comfort of having their owner around during such a frightening time, too.

During the holiday season, no matter which holiday season it may be, remember to keep your pets safe!