While December brings us lots of food and festivities, it can bring our pets trouble and sickness if we are not careful.
Listed below are some of the dangers that you should watch for during the holiday season and throughout the year.
“People Food” your animals should be kept away from:
- Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Avocados
- Macadamia nuts
- Grapes, Raisins
- Yeast dough
- Undercooked meat, eggs, bones
- Xylitol – calorie-free sweetener
- Milk
- Salt
Dangerous Plants:
- Lilies
- Marijuana
- Sago Palm
- Tulip and Narcissus bulbs
- Azalia and Rhododendron
- Oleander
- Castor bean
- Cyclamen
- Kalanchoe
- Yew
- Amaryllis
- Crocus
- Chrysanthemum
- English Ivy
- Pothos
- Schefflera
For a list of these and more toxic foods, plants, and their symptoms visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
The holiday season alone does not afford all of the seasonal disasters. The winter season allows other potential dangers including:
- Freezing weather: outdoor pets need to have proper draft-free shelter and fresh water. Indoor pets should have limited time outside and pets should not be left in vehicles during cold weather
- Salt and de-icing compounds: can cause burns on the skin or digestive issues if ingested. Be sure to wipe off paws and belly if pets must come into contact with these chemicals
- Antifreeze: a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Products which use propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol are safer
- Tinsel: cats and dogs alike seem to enjoy playing with and ingesting this holiday decoration. This is a very serious issue as the tinsel can become lodged in the digestive tract and cause fatal blockages