Holiday Safety Tips for Pets

While unpacking holiday decorations can bring feelings of joy and excitement each year, your favorite holiday decor and seasonal plants can pose a threat to your pet. Dr. Bethany Hsia, a licensed veterinarian and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) who has been practicing for more than 12 years, warns about the dangers of common holiday plants. Poinsettias, mistletoe, holly and lilies are considered particularly dangerous plants, ranging from “mildly toxic” to “highly toxic,” according to Dr. Hsia.

Here are a few other holiday decorations and plants that can pose a threat to your pet:

• Tinsel and ribbons: Tinsel and ribbons may look like a tempting treat or toy to curious cats and dogs. If eaten, this common Christmas decoration can lead to intestinal blockages that may require surgery. For this reason, these decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets.

• Glass ornaments: Glass ornaments can shatter when knocked off the Christmas tree, which can lead to cuts, scrapes and other injuries to your pet. You can prevent accidents by keeping glass ornaments off the lower limbs of your tree and away from playful paws. If you have a cat that likes to climb the Christmas tree, you may decide to forgo glass ornaments in favor of plastic ones.

• Christmas lights and cords: Christmas lights and cords are not meant to be chewed on because they can deliver lethal electric shocks. To protect your pet, you can keep all cords off the ground, and unplug them when you go to bed or leave the home.

• Mistletoe and holly: Both mistletoe and holly are toxic for dogs and cats. Holly berries contain compounds that can cause stomach problems, but if your pet eats mistletoe, it can lead to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and even central nervous system damage. Instead of real mistletoe and holly, consider using fake plants to decorate your home for the holidays.

• Poinsettias: The bright red and glowing white leaves of the poinsettia are commonplace during the holidays, but this plant is dangerous for both dogs and cats. If eaten by your pet, the plant can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If you do buy a poinsettia or are gifted one, try to keep it up high out of your pet’s reach. Or if you live in a region that does not experience below-freezing temperatures, you can place your poinsettia outside as a front door decoration.

• Lilies: Lilies — including Easter lilies, tiger lilies and daylilies — are incredibly toxic to cats. If ingested and left untreated, lilies can lead to vomiting and even kidney failure.

Even with careful planning, your pet may get into one or more of these holiday hazards. Should your pet ingest toxic plants or develop a blockage from holiday decorations, it may need immediate veterinary attention. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above or some suspicious bite marks where they shouldn’t be, we recommend contacting an emergency vet right away.

We all have favorite holiday dishes and traditions, but not all foods can be shared with your pets. “The whole festive period is notorious for a surge in admissions to our hospital, mainly due to food toxicities,” Dr. Hsia said. That said, pet owners should try to keep the following holiday foods away from their pets this season:

• Desserts: Chocolate — particularly dark chocolate and baking chocolate — should never be given to dogs or cats as it contains toxic theobromine and caffeine. Even fruit cakes and mince pies are not safe for your pet because they often contain raisins or grapes, which can lead to kidney failure.

• Leftovers: Dr. Linda Simon, MVB, MRCVS, a veterinary surgeon with 11 years of clinical experience, shares that some holiday leftovers can be hazardous for your pets. She warns against giving your dogs the turkey carcass and states, “Even the bread stuffing from your roast dinner can be a hazard as garlic and onions cause anemia in cats and dogs if eaten in large quantities.”
• Alcohol: Alcohol is dangerous for animals. Even small amounts can lead to symptoms such as disorientation, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, coma and even death.
• Additional unsafe foods: Although the foods listed above are among the most common holiday pet safety hazards, there are other unsafe holiday foods for pets.

Just because your pet cannot enjoy the same holiday dishes as you, doesn’t mean it can’t have a treat of its own. If you want to give your pet a special holiday treat, ask your vet for safe homemade treats or buy treats from your local pet store.

Pets are part of the family too, so of course we want them involved in the holiday festivities. But any time your pet’s routine is disrupted, it can lead to unnecessary stress or even dangerous situations. As you plan your holiday get-togethers, consider these tips for a safe, stress-free environment for your furry family members:

• Create a quiet space for pets: Similar to humans, pets can easily become overstimulated. “It may be helpful to set up a safe space, where the pet is separated behind a door or a gate with some calming music or white noise, and some long lasting tasty food treats,” said Dr. Melissa Bain, DVM, DACVB, MS, DACAW, a veterinarian and Professor of Clinical Animal Behavior at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
• Introduce guests to pets gradually: Try to avoid forcing your pet to interact with any holiday house guests. Instead, let your pet approach your guests on its own time.
• Secure doors and windows to prevent escapes: When you have company over, it can be hard to keep track of doors and windows opening and closing. Make sure your company knows there is a pet in the house and to keep doors closed and windows latched.

“It is important that an owner doesn’t force their pet to interact with visitors. Holidays are a stressful time for everyone, and for those pets who are uncomfortable around visitors, owners should let them choose to be away from them,” Dr. Bain said.

By creating a quiet space and allowing your pet to greet your guests on its own time, your holiday party can be one that both two-legged and four-legged party guests enjoy.

While some households may be hosting guests, others may have to travel to see family members. Whether you plan to drive 20 minutes away or travel across the country to see your loved ones, you can follow these safety tips for traveling with a pet:

• Use pet carriers or restraints if traveling by car: Pet carriers or other restraints ensure both you and your pet’s safety while driving. Pets that roam freely in the car can cause dangerous distractions and make it difficult for the pet to settle down. You may choose to put your pet in a pet carrier, install a pet booster seat or get a pet harness that attaches to the seat belt.
• Research and book pet-friendly accommodations: If you’re traveling long distances or plan to stay at a hotel, you can do research ahead of time to find pet-friendly hotels. Some hotels that commonly have pet-friendly rooms include Hampton Inn, Motel 6 and Marriott, among others.
• Update pet identification tags and microchips: There are preventative steps you can take to ease any stress should you and your pet become separated during travel. Before you travel, update your pet’s name tags with your current address, phone numbers and vaccination information. If your pet has a microchip, double-check to make sure it’s registered under your correct information.
• Consider pet insurance: Accidents happen, and in the case of unexpected vet bills, treatment can cost thousands of dollars. Before you head out for the holidays, it may be worth investing in a pet insurance policy from a reputable provider. Pet insurance typically covers unexpected pet accidents and emergencies, like foreign object digestion. With a pet policy, you will have coverage should the unthinkable happen during your holiday vacation.

Even if you take every precaution, accidents can happen. To be prepared should you find yourself in an unforeseen pet emergency, keep these pet emergency preparedness tips in mind:

• Keep emergency contact information handy: Write down emergency phone numbers so you don’t have to worry about looking up phone numbers during a pet emergency. The three most important phone numbers to have on hand are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), the number for your closest 24/7 emergency veterinarian and if you have pet insurance, the phone number to file a claim.

• Pet-proof your home: There are ways to pet-proof your home to prevent pet emergencies from happening in the first place. You can unplug Christmas lights before you leave, put away food once you’ve finished eating and keep all seasonal plants out of reach of pets.

• Recognize signs of distress: If your pet has eaten anything on our lists above and you notice vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, trouble breathing, increase in temperature, inability to pass stool or lethargy, call your vet immediately.

• Maintain a pet first aid kit: Just as you have a human first aid kit for emergencies, it can be helpful to have a pet first aid kit. Some key items to include in a pet first aid kit include hydrogen peroxide, milk of magnesia, gauze, non-stick bandages, tweezers, cotton balls and antibiotic ointment.

The holidays can be a busy time, which is why it’s important to prioritize pet safety. As you decorate the tree and roast the turkey, you can also protect your pets by being aware of which holiday foods and flora should be kept out of reach. Our holiday pet safety tips can help you relax and enjoy a hazard-free holiday season with your furry friend.