Ensuring Pet Safety: Christmas Decorations That Won't Harm Your Pets
Just as children’s eyes widen at the traditional festive decorations which adorn our homes at this time of year, animals may also find the sparkly, flashing or tasty accessories irresistible too.
Here are a few examples of such Christmas-related hazards which it would be sensible to be mindful of at this time of year:
Chocolate
Whether the foil-wrapped chocolate decorations hung on the tree, or tasty stocking fillers, most houses contain more chocolate than usual at this time of year, and it is widely known that chocolate is poisonous to dogs due to the chemical theobromine it contains, as well as caffeine. The darker and more bitter the chocolate is, the higher the content of theobromine, and the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Signs of ingestion depend upon the type of chocolate eaten and the amount. For many dogs, the most common clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, restlessness/panting and a racing heart rate, but can include tremors, seizures and heart failure. It is essential that you contact your vet immediately for advice if you think your dog has ingested chocolate.
Nuts
Traditionally, bowls of nuts are put out at this time of year, but many of them are very toxic to our pets, such as macadamia nuts, raw cashews and pistachios. Not only can they cause digestive upsets and neurological signs such as seizures, but their size means they provide a choking hazard, and can also easily cause blockages in the animal’s intestines, requiring emergency surgery to remove them. For this reason, keep your festive snacks away from where your pets may be able to get to them.
Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe
Holly has been used as a Christmas symbol for centuries, but despite its beautiful appearance, it is toxic to dogs if ingested causing irritation of the mouth, drooling and tummy upsets.
Ivy can cause severe skin irritation if a pet comes into direct contact with it or gastrointestinal abnormalities if ingested, whilst mistletoe can also cause vomiting and abdominal pain, along with low blood pressure and incoordination. For these reasons, ensure your pets can’t get access to any foliage brought into the house over the festive period.
Poinsettia
These are mildly toxic to dogs and cats and when ingested, cause mild signs of vomiting, drooling and sometimes diarrhoea. If the milky sap is exposed to skin, irritation and swelling of the skin can develop, but signs are usually self-limiting. Again, place your poinsettia on surfaces your pets can’t reach to keep them out of harm’s way.
Christmas Trees
The distinctive smell of a fresh pine Christmas tree is a must for many families, but they are particularly attractive to cats who love to climb them and are attracted to the tinsel and other decorations which may be hung on them. The pine needles themselves easily scratch eyes and get embedded in the pads of paws, and the “fake snow” which is often used on them may well be toxic to animals if ingested or rubbed on their skin. If you do have a “real” tree, vacuum up the pine needles very regularly to reduce the risk of them causing harm.
If you have a cat, consider leaving the tinsel off the tree this year, or, to try and repel them away from the tree, try using lemon-scented air fresheners around the tree. Tinsel can be toxic to cats especially as ingestion of it can result in a condition called a linear foreign body. This happens when one end of the string (in the tinsel) wraps itself around the base of the tongue or anchors itself in the stomach, and the rest moves into the intestines. This will cause severe damage to your cat’s guts and presents a life-threatening situation where emergency surgery is required to try and remove the foreign body.
Be sure to ensure the tree is adequately secured, so as not to risk it toppling over and injuring your pet. You may have to secure it to a wall for this to happen.
If you have rabbits, or rodents free-ranging at home, be wary of them nibbling through electric light cables, for example…using cord protectors here is recommended, or covering the wires in tape so they cannot be chewed.
Any baubles hung from the tree should be higher up where your pets cannot easily knock them off, and avoid glass baubles which shatter if they hit the floor - causing cuts and glass splinters in your pet’s paws.
Also, avoid chocolate or sourdough decorations as these often prove too tempting to resist, and if you place presents under the tree, ensure they are not edible ones which will attract the curiosity of your pet.
Candles and Fireplaces
Sweet-smelling festive candles are great for making us feel all snug and Christmassy, but they need to be safely out of the reach of your pets, as they are easily knocked over by a swishing tail, or a clumsy kitten. If you have an open fire, use a fireguard to protect your pet from flying embers.
PocketVet vet Dr Rachel Louise Keane (BVSc BSc MRCVS) believes that you should plan ahead with your Christmas decorations to keep your pets safe and that you should keep your vet in mind this Christmas.
“We all want a relaxing and restful Christmas, full of great food and great company, so try planning ahead in terms of what sort of decorations you use, and where you display them, to try and ensure we don’t have any panicked trips to the vets over the festive period. Check your vet’s opening hours over the holiday period, and make sure you have contact information for any “out-of-hours” providers, should it be required in a hurry. Also, keep an eye on PocketVet’s opening hours over the festive period to have access to vets when you need them from the comfort of your own home.”
Sources
What Christmas decorations are pet-safe? - Vet Help Direct
How to have a pet-friendly Christmas - PDSA
20 Pet-Friendly Christmas Decorations Safe for Dogs (topdogtips.com)
Christmas Dangers for Dogs | Blue Cross
Safe and Unsafe Nuts and Seeds For Dogs & Cats | Preventive Vet
