Christmas is a wonderful time of year – but not always for
your pets! Here are some tips for keeping your pets out of danger.
Food
to avoid giving your pet at Christmas
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate (can be toxic to pets especially dark
chocolate)
- Coffee
- Mouldy or spoiled foods
- Salt
- Chicken or Turkey bones (they can splinter)
- Raisins and grapes have on rare occasions caused acute
irreversible renal failure in dogs, so be aware of this.
Avoid giving your pet any of your leftovers
as this can cause diarrhea. This is particularly the case with dogs that are
used to a dried diet, owners often feel that their pet has to partake in the
Christmas binge and this can result in acute gastroenteritis.
Also keep your pet away from cooked bones:
they can splinter or get lodged in your pet’s throat or can cause serious
damage by puncturing the intestinal tract.
Pet
hazards around the Christmas tree
- Fallen Christmas tree needles are very sharp and can
easily get stuck in your pet’s paws or throat. Sweep tree needles up
regularly.
- Do not hang your chocolates from your Christmas tree:
they can be toxic and your pet will be tempted if he can see and smell
them.
- Cover up electric cords and flashing tree lights so
your pet can’t chew them and electrocute himself.
- Try using fairy lights that don’t flash as some pets
when up close can get very scared by these.
- Christmas tree decorations can cause a nasty accident
or be fatal to your pet. Cats, and young pets especially, will show a
great interest in decorations hanging from your tree. Try to use
unbreakable decorations and nothing too small. Avoid tinsel or ribbons as
these are dangerous to the gastrointestinal tract if your pet swallows
them. I have on numerous occasions had to perform life saving surgery on
cats who have swallowed long strands of tinsel.
- Be very careful with any balls purchased for your dog
to play with, if they are large enough to swallow but too small to pass
through the intestines they will cause an obstruction.
- Make sure your tree is well anchored so your pet can’t pull it over.
Other
Christmas dangers to pets
- Holly, mistletoe, lilies and yew trees are poisonous to
pets and must be kept well out of reach.
- Remember loud noises will panic your pet, such as
Christmas crackers, poppers, balloons, and champagne bottles.
- Remove your Christmas wrapping paper (and toys) from
the floor to avoid your pet chewing or swallowing it.
- For your pet’s safety this Christmas always buy your
pet’s presents from a reputable outlet.
- In many households this is often the only time of year that your pet is exposed to large gatherings of noisy excitable people and children. This can scare your pet, and this may result in unusual behavior, placid dogs have been known to get aggressive in this scenario. Therefore make sure your pet has some place where it can find a degree of sanctuary.
FIREWORKS
AND YOUR PETS
Fireworks
are enjoyed year-round by lots of people but many
animals are frightened by
them. It doesn’t have to be that way though, so if your pet is scared, there
are lots of things you can do to help.
Make sure your dog or cat always has
somewhere to hide if they want to and has access to this place at all times. For example, this may be under
some furniture or in a cupboard.
Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in
a safe and secure environment and can’t escape if there’s a sudden noise. Have your pets microchipped in case they do
escape – by law, your dog should already be microchipped.
During fireworks seasons, walk dogs during
daylight hours and keep
cats and dogs indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.
At nightfall, close windows and curtains and
put on music to ask and muffle the sound of fireworks.
Never punish your pets when they are scared as
this will only make thing.
Each
evening before the fireworks begin, move your dog to the play area and provide
toys and other things that they enjoy.
Make sure
that there are things for you to do too so that your
dog isn’t left alone.
Ignore the
firework noises yourself. Play with a toy to see if
your dog wants to join in,
but don’t force them to play.
Each
evening before the fireworks begin, move your dog to the play area and provide
toys and other things that they enjoy.
Pheromone
diffusers and pheromone collars are available from the vet clinic. These
disperse calming chemicals into the room and may be a good option for your dog.
The collar centralizes the pheromones around the dog so in some cases is more
effective.
In some cases we may prescribe medication.
These are tranquilizers that will sedate your pet and make him less aware and
therefore less frightened of fireworks.
Either of these medical options can be used in
conjunction with behavioral therapy.
Finally from
myself and all the staff at the Gibraltar
Veterinary Clinic we wish you all a
fabulous
Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
