Holiday Hazards For Pets You Need To Watch Out For

With three cats (a toddler, an adult, and a senior) plus a senior dog, all living together with my sons and me, I always try to think about how I can decorate for the holidays, enjoy baking and meals, and celebrate with presents in a way that won’t harm any of them during the festive season.

This year, I thought I’d dig in a little deeper and share some things you may not have considered as dangers for your pets. Here is a list of things that can harm your pet that you should plan around this and every holiday season, as well as any other time of year.

HOTDISH AND CASSEROLES ARE A BIG NO-NO FOR PETS

Even though that green bean casserole might be part of a “healthy” holiday meal at home, it is definitely NOT something you should share with your pets.

Even if your dish is based around green beans or sweet potatoes (which by themselves can be okay for dogs) these dishes typically contain garlic and onion (both toxic to dogs), plus butter, oil, and creams. None of these should be fed to your dog, not even on a holiday.

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ALCOHOL POISONING

Even if you’ve heard otherwise, your pet should never be given beer or other alcoholic drinks. You might think it’s cute to give them a holiday sip, but it can cause low blood pressure, low body temperature, low blood sugar, tremors, seizures, coma, and even death, according to PetMD.

LILIES ARE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS

Some plants are extremely dangerous to both cats and dogs. Too many people lose their pets during the holidays simply because they didn’t know that a beautiful lily on the table caused their cat to go into kidney failure.

Avoid Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter, and Japanese Show lilies completely.

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POINSETTIAS ARE PRETTY, BUT…

Poinsettias can cause stomach distress in cats and dogs. They likely won’t cause death, but they can definitely make your pet sick with stomach aches, vomiting, or diarrhea.

To make sure the plants in your home are safe, you can find a list of pet-friendly (and not-so-friendly) plants by clicking HERE.

CANDLES

Candles are lovely — especially for a candlelit dinner — but pets and open flames don’t mix. Their curiosity can lead to burns or even a major fire if they knock a candle over.

Battery-operated candles give you the same cozy look without the danger.

TINSEL

We don’t see tinsel as often as we used to, but if your dog or cat ingests it, it can be extremely dangerous.

RIBBONS AND STRINGS

I had no idea my cat Pnuema was chewing on holiday string until I found some she had passed in the litter box. Now I’m very careful not to leave thin ribbon, tinsel, or string lying around for her to snack on.

ELECTRICAL CORDS

Pets don’t always chew cords when you’re home because they’re usually more interested in you. But when they’re alone, curiosity can take over.

Keep cords covered or unplugged when you aren’t around to prevent accidents.

ICE MELT

If you use ice melt outside and your pets walk through it, make sure it’s pet-friendly. Salt can get stuck between their toes and cause irritation, and if they lick it off, it can make them sick.

Always check the label for “pet-safe.”

ANTIFREEZE

Antifreeze is one of the most dangerous substances for pets. Just a single drop can kill a dog or cat. If you suspect a leak or are filling antifreeze yourself, clean every bit of it up. Even a small amount can be deadly.

FIRE LOGS

Who would think a dog might try to chew on a fire log? But some do.

Clean up ashes after a fire and make sure your dog can’t get anywhere near hot or burning wood.

CLEANING SUPPLIES

If you’ve always used bleach, ammonia, or chlorine products, you might want to switch if you have pets. Put these products away when you’re done, and consider choosing pet-friendly cleaners instead. Even all-natural products can cause problems.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HOUSEGUESTS’ BAGS & PURSES

If you have guests over, keep their bags out of reach. You never know what your pets might get into — medications, gum, chocolate, or other unsafe items.

ORNAMENTS

Glass ornaments should be kept high up on the tree or in places your pets can’t reach. If your pets knock them down and they break, the sharp pieces can cut them or be ingested, causing dangerous blockages.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry when you have pets. I hope this list helps keep your furry family members safe this year and every year after.