The holidays are fast approaching, and the hectic season can be dangerous for your pet. Our Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital team doesn’t want a veterinary emergency to ruin your holiday cheer, and we explain what you need to know to keep your four-legged friend safe during this festive time.

Keep your pet away from the holiday food

Most people look forward to the holiday feast and use the festivities as an excuse to overindulge on decadent treats, but many of these dishes contain ingredients that are dangerous for pets. Any sudden change in your pet’s diet can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) upset, and ingesting a high-fat meal can lead to a painful, potentially life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. Bones are also a problem because they can splinter, injuring your pet’s mouth or GI tract, or become lodged in their intestine, causing an obstruction. In addition, many foods, such as Allium vegetables (e.g., onions, leeks, shallots, scallions, and garlic), grapes and raisins, xylitol-containing foods, alcohol, and chocolate, are toxic to pets. Tips to protect your pet from these dangers include:

  • Corralling your pet — Use baby gates or confine your pet to their crate to keep them out of the kitchen during meal preparation and away from the dinner table when the feast is served.
  • Alerting your guests — Ensure your guests know not to share their food with your furry pal, regardless of how pitiful their big, begging eyes look.
  • Securing your garbage — Place discarded plates, food-smeared plastic wrap and foil, turkey bones, and all other garbage in closed containers, and take the trash outside to help prevent dumpster diving.
  • Storing leftovers appropriately — To prevent counter-surfing, store leftovers in the refrigerator or in sealed containers on a high shelf.
  • Providing pet-friendly treats — To ensure your pet doesn’t feel left out of the holiday festivities, offer them pet-friendly treats such as plain, skinless turkey meat, unseasoned green beans, and unflavored sweet potatoes.

Ensure your holiday decorations are pet-friendly

Pets are curious, and when you deck your halls to make them merry and bright, they are sure to investigate. Their exploration and scrutiny can get them into trouble if you haven’t pet-proofed the decorations. Tips include:

  • Securing the tree — Whether your pet tries to climb the evergreen or simply wants to investigate the branches, they can knock the tree over, injuring themselves and creating a big mess. Secure the tree in a sturdy tree stand and anchor it to the ceiling or an adjacent wall.
  • Leaving lower branches bare — Shiny ornaments hung on lower branches may tempt your pet, so leave the lower tree branches bare.
  • Avoiding breakable ornaments — Fragile ornaments made of glass and other breakable materials can injure your pet’s mouth, face, or paws if they accidentally break the object. Avoid these ornaments or ensure they remain out of your pet’s reach.
  • Securing electric cords — Some pets like to chew on electric cords, which may result in a shock or a fire hazard. Use cord covers to secure all electric cords.
  • Ensuring plants are pet-friendly — Many common holiday decorative plants, such as holly, mistletoe, and lilies, are toxic to pets. Ensure any plant you bring into your home is pet-friendly to prevent accidental poisoning.

Ensure your pet doesn’t perform a disappearing act during the holidays

Your pet may take advantage of how distracted you are during the holiday season to sneak out an open door. Take the following steps to ensure they don’t go missing:

  • Prevent door rushing — When guests are entering and leaving, confine your pet to their crate or another room to keep them from rushing the door.
  • Post notes — Post notices on your doors to remind yourself and your guests to watch for your pet when opening doors, and ensure your guests know your pet isn’t allowed outside.
  • Secure doors and windows — When leaving your pet at home alone, secure all doors and windows so they can’t escape.

Despite these precautions, your pet still may get past your defenses. Ensure they are properly identified, including a microchip, collar, and identification tags with your current contact information, to improve your chances of a happy reunion if they go missing.

Plan for your pet before you travel

Whether your pet is accompanying you on your travels or staying behind, make plans well in advance of the holiday. Considerations include:

  • Scheduling their care — Boarding facilities and pet sitters book up quickly during the holiday season. Make your pet’s reservation well in advance to secure their care.
  • Determining what documents you need — If you are flying with your pet or traveling outside your state or province, you may need a health certificate or other documentation to prove your pet is healthy. Research what documents you will need so you can make the appropriate arrangements.
  • Traveling safely — If traveling by car, ensure your pet is properly restrained. Cats and small dogs should be placed in a carrier on the floor behind the passenger seat or somewhere that the carrier can’t slide around. Larger dogs should be restrained using a security harness or a pet barrier. 

Ensure your pet remains stress-free during the holidays

Some pets, especially those who are anxiety-prone, may find the holidays stressful, which can have significant psychological and physical consequences. Tips to help your four-legged friend remain stress-free this holiday season include:

  • Creating a pet safe area — If you know your pet is anxiety-prone, create a safe area where they can stay during the festivities. Ensure they have all the necessary resources, such as bedding, food, water, and a litter box; leave music or white noise playing to mask noises; and provide a distraction such as a food-stuffed toy.
  • Asking for help — If anxiety is problematic for your pet, ask our team if they could benefit from an anti-anxiety medication or sedative to help make the holidays a little easier.

Contact our Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital team if your pet needs a health certificate or something to help them deal with the holiday stress.