Community Corner

Keep Family Pets Safe From Holiday Hazards

Tree decorations, electrical cords and even holiday plants can pose a choking or poisoning hazard to dogs and cats.

Written by Rob Klindt

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, many people have decorated their homes with seasonal wreaths, trees, ornaments, lights and candles in an effort to make a happy home for everyone.

But what about the family pet?

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Veterinarians and animal advocates across the country are warning pet owners that some decorations can pose a safety hazard to dogs and cats. Small decorative ornaments, tinsel and pine needles are just a few items that can potentially sicken, injure or even kill a pet.

Officials from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley offer the following holiday season pet care tips on their website:

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  • Never leave your pet home alone with a real Christmas tree with breakable ornaments. Cats may want to climb the tree and dogs may be inspired to use it as a fire hydrant. We recommend an artificial tree with soft needles. A real tree’s needles can lodge in between your pet’s paw pads or get caught in your pet’s nostrils. And an artificial tree doesn’t require water so your pet won’t drink it and become ill. 
  • Avoid using tinsel. It’s surprisingly sharp and can cut through an animal’s intestines if swallowed.  
  • Tape holiday tree light cords to the wall and across the floor so dogs and cats don’t chew through them and get burned or electrocuted. 
  • Remember that many small ornaments can be fatal if swallowed.
  • Flames or dripping wax from candles can burn dogs or singe their whiskers or hair. Candles also pose a fire hazard if a pet knocks them over. 

Poisonous Plants

While plants with brightly-colored leaves and flowers are a popular way to add to a festive holiday setting, they can be harmful or fatal to animals. A posting on the dog advocacy website Dogster.com lists several types of plants that can pose a hazard to pets.

  • Poinsettia. This red-leafed plant doesn't actually live up to all the hype -- it's actually only mildly toxic to most animals. However, even mild toxicity can be fatal when combined with other conditions. It’s better safe than sorry.
  • Mistletoe. While the mistletoe may be a symbol of merry-making, it's toxic if swallowed -- but not as toxic as once believed.
  • Holly: Holly berries may be the most attractive to dogs, but its leaves, bark and seeds are just as poisonous. The effect of holly on dogs is similar to that of caffeine and chocolate.
  • Amaryllis: Less common than the other plants on this list, amaryllis causes abdominal pain and convulsions.

Holiday Foods and Sweets

A big part of celebrating the holidays is food and especially sweets. Pet owners should avoid sharing these items with their dogs and cats. Chocolates, cocoa, and even the perennially popular fruit cake can cause major digestive problems for pets if they eat these items. Common ingredients in fruit cake like grapes and raisins have been linked to kidney failure in dogs. Fruit cakes dipped in alcohol also can be toxic to pets.

Dogster.com says there are signs to look for if a pet owner suspects an animal has been poisoned:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Coma
  • Convulsions
  • Diarrhea
  • Drooling
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Labored breathing
  • Lethargy
  • Swollen limbs
  • Vomiting 

A Word about Water

If a holiday tree is sitting in a bucket of water to keep it fresh, make sure a dog cannot drink from it. Loose pine needles and potentially toxic tree oils in the water can cause poisoning. In addition, the chemicals used in liquid tree preservatives can be fatal if ingested. 

While pets are part of the family, it’s best to keep them away from holiday decorations, foods and plants for their own safety and well being. When decorating, pet owners should be proactive and make sure decorations and accessories are safely displayed and out of reach to pets.



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