Our Tips For Keeping Your Pets Safe At Christmas…

Christmas is the most wonderful time of year! Here are some tips for keeping your pets out of danger so everyone can enjoy the festive season.  

While decking your home with delectable Christmas treats, be aware that many can pose a threat to your pets. Chocolate, for instance, is toxic, and even a small amount can be problematic. Ensure the safety of your pets by providing designated ‘dog chocolate.’

Coffee, Raisins, Grapes and Sultanas

As tasty as they are for us, they can cause kidney failure, liver failure and other problems for our pets. Raisins and grapes are VERY toxic and can cause kidney failure. Nobody is quite sure why, so they should be avoided entirely. That means no mince pies or Christmas pudding!

The toxic list also includes the sweetener xylitol, which in even small amounts can be highly toxic. Xylitol can be found in chewing gum, some sweets, mints, toothpaste, and mouthwash.

Also, human food, treats and scraps that are a change to your pets normal diet can cause stomach upsets, vomiting, diarrhoea and even more serious conditions such as Pancreatitis which can be fatal. Be careful with turkey bones as they can perforate intestines.

Try to keep your pet’s diet constant through the festive period and give them their normal amount of cat or dog food. This includes cats on special diets for problems such as renal disease or cystitis.

Dangerous Plants

Mistletoe, Holly, Potpourri and Poinsettias should be avoided.  As always, extreme caution is needed with lilies as the pollen can cause renal failure in cats.

Christmas Decorations

Tinsel and similar decorations can be a very tempting toy which must not be eaten.  Also, make sure your tree is secure and won’t fall over onto an inquisitive furry friend.  Similarly, make sure electric cables for lights and other decorations are well protected or out of the way – these can often be chewed, especially by house rabbits!

Christmas Presents

Remember dogs and cats will know what is beneath all that wrapping paper using the power of their nose, so be very careful with presents under the tree and treats hanging from it!

Fireworks Never End

There are often still fireworks at this time of year, so keep your pets inside and stock up on DAP and Feliway to calm them, or use a noise desensitisation CD if you have one. Ask the surgery if your pet needs more help in the form of natural calming therapies or sedatives. Pets may try to run out of the door with guests coming and going and the noises of parties, so ensure they are micro-chipped and the information is up to date.

Other Hazards

There are a few other winter hazards to be aware of – the salt and grit on the roads can be an irritant to dog’s feet so ensure to wipe their feet when coming back from walks. Be very careful of anti-freeze, as the taste can be attractive especially to cats, and can cause severe kidney failure.

It’s The Favourite Time Of The Year For Fleas

As the central heating comes on and people stop using the flea medications, we always see lots of flea cases over Christmas. Remember your Stronghold or Advocate! If you are unsure if your pet has fleas then we recommend you do the wet paper test (link to YouTube video).

Please look out for signs your pet is unwell this Christmas, it is all too easy to overlook mild signs of illness with all the festivities. If your pet is unwell over the festive period then don’t be tempted to give them any human medications.  It is much better to call us and use our emergency service for further advice.

We hope you have a fantastic Christmas and that all of this doesn’t scare you – just try to keep an eye out for any potential problems and let guests know to avoid giving your pets human treats – why not try having a few carrot sticks or a couple of new toys to give instead!  If you have any queries then let us know.

We wish all our furry friends a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year!

P.S Looking to give your pet a health boost for Christmas? Our VIP Healthcare Plan covers all preventative care from vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and regular health checks. It also ensures massive savings so you can enjoy the festivities without worrying about your little friend!

For more information on our incredible VIP Healthcare Plan, call one of our surgeries and our highly experienced team will answer all of your questions and give solutions customised to your pet’s needs!