Keeping pets safe at Christmas

Many common treats and snacks we humans enjoy as part of our holiday celebration can be dangerous to our pets. Animals digest and metabolise food differently to humans, so what might be perfectly fine for us can be poisonous to them.

Most people know that chocolate is dangerous for dogs, but there is actually an array of popular festive ingredients that your pets’ bodies are simply not designed to eat. Pets can get into food they’re not supposed to eat very quickly, so we have to be extra vigilant at this time of year. Handbags, gifts under the tree, food left on tables and in rubbish bags are common places where pets will often steal foods that can make them sick.

Although Christmas is the season of giving, there are plenty of other ways to spoil your pets. You can freeze pet food or put it into toys so your pets can gradually extract the food. Going for a walk or playing games in the garden after a big meal is also a great way to make sure your pet gets the attention they need, and is also helps to fight your own after-meal lethargy.

If you think your pet has eaten something dangerous, you should call your local vet clinic immediately.

Fruit cake and Christmas pudding: aisins (and grapes) are toxic to cats and dogs. They are toxic to their kidneys and can cause lethargy, excessive thirst, vomiting and in serious cases can be fatal.

Alcohol and caffeine: these are both toxic for pets.

Avocados: these contain persin which causes symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhoea to cardiac arrest and death. Birds are particularly sensitive to persin but avocado should not be fed to any pets.

Chocolate: for cats and dogs, chocolate can cause elevated heart rate, seizures, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Macadamia nuts: can cause vomiting, weakness and tremors if eaten by dogs.

Onions and chives: these contain disulphides and sulfoxides, which can damage red blood cells if eaten by cats and dogs.

Pits and seeds of peaches, plums, persimmons, and apples: these contain a substance that degrades to cyanide, which is toxic. The pits of peaches are also choking hazards that can cause blockages and damage to the intestine.

Xylitol (a common ingredient in sugarless treats and sugarless gum): causes hypoglycaemia in dogs, which can lead to seizures and liver failure in severe cases.

Sweet-corn cobs: these can cause blockages in the small intestine that may need to be removed surgically. Don’t let your dog chew on the cob.

Turkey skin/pork crackling/sausages/fatty meats: these can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and may lead to pancreatitis.

The foods listed above are not the only thing your pets might try to eat this Christmas. When decorating your home for the festivities, ensure your decorations are not a hazard for your pets.

Make sure your tree is safe, avoid toxic plants, keep your animals from chewing on power cords or lights, be careful of sharp and delicate ornaments, monitor lit candles, and, if you own cats, skip the tinsel to avoid accidental ingestion and costly surgery!

Try these animal friendly decorating tips instead:

• Make sure your Christmas tree is safely secured to the floor, wall or ceiling and cannot easily topple over.
• Switch to battery or solar operated candles.
• Decorate with shatterproof ornaments such as those made from plastic, wood or paper.
• Keep lights and small decorations out of reach of animals.
• Use plastic LED lights, they are cool to the touch, durable, and energy efficient.
• Cover and contain cords with plastic casing or tape them down.
• Unplug lights and other electronic decorations when you’re not home.