The holiday season is hectic, but you shouldn’t have to worry about your pet having an accident or illness that lands them in the veterinary emergency hospital. Holiday foods, decorations, guests, travel, and stress can turn your home into a holiday pet minefield, but you can take steps to prevent mishaps and ensure your pet remains safe through the season. Commonwealth Animal Care shares some tips and tricks to pet-proof your home this holiday season.
#1: Restrict pet access to kitchen and dining areas
Holiday foods and baked goods may contain ingredients that are toxic to pets, and we know things can get messy when you’re trying to prepare a large meal. Pets may take advantage of fallen foods or climb up to countertops to steal items from the edge while your back is turned. Use gates or confine your pet to their crate or room while you’re cooking or serving a large meal to avoid any diet-related dangers. As a secondary precaution, avoid leaving any food unattended in these areas. Especially dangerous foods include chocolate, xylitol, onions, garlic, raisins, and macadamia nuts.
#2: Remove food-containing trash promptly
Pets who get into the trash are likely to consume fatty meat scraps, bones, or indigestible items such as trussings or corn cobs. At best, consuming trash can lead to short-lived vomiting or diarrhea, but worse outcomes are possible. Pancreatitis—pancreatic inflammation that causes pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy—can result from excessively fatty foods. Bones, corn cobs, or trussings can obstruct your pet’s stomach or intestines, which usually can require emergency surgery to avoid life-threatening complications.
#4: Remove toxic plants from your home
Good news, your poinsettia can stay! This plant, along with holly, generally only causes drooling or mild vomiting and diarrhea if your pet consumes it. The small mistletoe sprig hanging in the doorway also can cause stomach upset, but larger amounts may lead to seizures or low blood pressure. If you’re concerned about pets chomping on your plants, use silk alternatives.
Lilies are extremely dangerous for cats and can cause severe renal failure or death if any parts of the plant are ingested, so we recommend removing them from your home.
#5: Secure your Christmas tree
Tree placement is important because you need to secure the tree to something sturdy to prevent pet-induced tipping over. If you place the tree against a wall or in a corner, you can more easily block your pet’s access with deterrents (e.g., foil, static mat, alarms) or gates. Cover tree water, which may contain fertilizers or harmful microbes, in case the deterrents aren’t enough to keep pets out. Clean up fallen needles or other debris daily.
#6: Avoid dangerous decorations
Tree decoration can be tricky when you have pets. Avoid tinsel, ribbon, or string, which attract cats and can cause intestinal obstructions or perforations when swallowed. Edible decor, such as popcorn strings or salt-dough ornaments, is too tempting for most dogs. Consider decorating the top half of the tree only, and use non-breakable ornaments.
Other potential decorative dangers include candles, which can burn your pet or start a fire, and snow globes, which contain poisonous ethylene glycol. Supervise your pets around these items, and ensure they can’t knock them over. If you regularly light candles as part of your holiday traditions, consider using safer flameless options.
#7: Protect electrical cords
Cover electrical cords with cord tunnels to prevent pets from chewing on the wires and becoming shocked or burned, or starting a house fire. Unplug lights and powered decorations when you can’t supervise your pet or when they’re not in use.
#8: Set up a quiet space for your pet
Pets need a quiet, comfortable space to relax if you’re planning to have guests in your home. Use calming music, pheromone diffusers, comfortable bedding, and favorite toys or treats to make the area appealing. Nervous pets with a propensity to lash out or bite should be confined to their quiet area or crate, and may benefit from veterinarian-prescribed anxiety medications. Social butterflies can be allowed to interact as they please, with the option to retreat when they’ve had enough. Ensure guests understand how to interact with your pets, and tell them not to give your furry friends any food or drink.
Pet-proofing your home can help keep your pet safe from seasonal dangers, but accidents may happen despite your best efforts. Contact the Commonwealth Animal Care team if your pet ingests a toxin, becomes injured, or develops an illness. For after hours, weekend, or holiday emergencies, contact your nearest veterinary emergency facility. For additional help with toxin ingestion, you can contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline.
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