Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Holidays

 We all want to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends including our pets. For our pets, the holidays can offer many hazards that can be either dangerous or stressful. Here are a few things to consider this holiday season.

The holiday season often brings additional hazards into the home, such as Christmas Trees: Pets might try to climb or play with the tree, leading to injuries or tree collapse. Pine needles, if ingested, can be harmful. Ornaments: Glass or fragile ornaments can break, causing injury. Small ornaments can be choking hazards or cause intestinal blockages if swallowed. Tinsel and Ribbons: These are particularly attractive to cats but can cause serious intestinal damage if ingested. Lights and Electrical Cords: Chewing on cords can lead to electric shock or burns. Ensure cords are out of reach or protected.

Many traditional holiday plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are toxic to pets.

Holiday feasts present a risk of pets ingesting inappropriate or dangerous foods. Foods like onions, grapes, and certain sweeteners used in baking can be harmful to pets. Additionally, overfeeding or giving pets rich, fatty foods can lead to gastrointestinal upset or more serious conditions like pancreatitis.

Holidays can be a stressful time for pets. The presence of more people, loud noises, and changes in routine can lead to anxiety and stress in pets. This can result in behavioral changes, escape attempts, or even health issues. Having a safe space like a crate or quiet room in the house can greatly help with anxiety.

With the hustle and bustle of the season, there's an increased risk of accidents. Pets might escape through doors that are frequently opened, or they might get injured by decorations like broken ornaments or electrical cords.

During holidays, normal veterinary services might be limited, and emergency services may be harder to access. This makes prevention and caution even more crucial. Be sure to know which emergency vet clinics in the area are open on the holidays.

In summary, the holiday season, while festive and joyful, introduces a range of potential risks to pets. As family members, their health and safety are paramount, and it's important to take extra precautions during this time to ensure they enjoy the season safely.

Be sure to check out our other blogs on keeping your pets safe.

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Happy Holidays!