The holidays are here, its time for beautiful lights, holiday decorations and plants. We want you to have a happy and safe holiday season with your family, friends, and pets.  We want you to help avoid some of the top holiday hazards to pets during the holidays which can help save your pet’s life.

Holiday Tinsel and Ornaments

Tinsel is not toxic but it is very attractive to cats especially who can attempt to eat it while playing with it and end up with a life threatening linear foreign body that requires emergency surgery. In addition, the bright and colorful ornaments are very attractive to both cats and dogs. These ornaments could become foreign objects if ingested or they could break and lacerate your pet’s mouth, throat, intestines and could also be a choking hazard.

Holiday Candles and Lighting

Holiday candles are very common to get everyone in a festive mood but the twinkling flame can be very attractive to pets, especially cats, who are easily able to reach such objects off the floor. These could obviously cause direct burns to your pet but like any candle could also cause a fire hazard just by a curious kitty knocking it off its shelf causing a house fire and possible human and pet death.

Also, does your pet like to chew? Electrical shock is a common emergency during the holidays unfortunately due to the increased number of electrical cords in the household and pets chewing on them. Always check your electrical cords for signs of fraying or chewing and using a 3 prong grounded extension cord can be used as a safety precaution.

Delicious Holiday Meals

These delicious holiday meals can be full of fat and other seasonings which can be harmful to your pet.  Avoid giving your pet table scraps as the high fat content of certain foods can cause serious conditions such as pancreatitis which require hospitalization.  Also be careful when throwing away your fat trimmings as even the best behaved dog can knock over a trash bin and get into the trash.  And you should never give your dog leftover bones as they can splinter and cause obstruction and/or lacerations of your dog’s digestive system which often requires emergency surgery.

Toxic Holiday Plants

There are certain common holiday plants that you should avoid including

Christmas tree needles can cause oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and lacerations amongst other symptoms.

Mistletoe can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea and even collapse, erratic behavior and death when ingested

Poinsettias can cause irritation to the mouth and cause vomiting and diarrhea and other GI disturbances.

Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and will cause renal failure and death in a very short amount of time. If you receive a bouquet of flowers ensure that they do not contain Lilies.

Are you considering giving a pet to your child for Christmas this year?  Here are some tips that you should consider before you commit to the responsibility of a pet and giving a pet to your child for their Christmas gift.

First of all, consider if your child is old enough to take on the responsibility of caring for a pet.  Younger children would do well with a low maintenance pet such as a guinea pig, hamster, or fish rather than a puppy or kitten.  He or she might have their heart set on the trendy dog breed from a movie or kids show but resist that temptation.  Take the time to research a breed that has a personality better suited to your family situation.  Some breeds are active and make great dogs for busy pre-teens or teenagers who want a pal to play with.  Other breeds are temperamental and not tolerant of younger children pulling on their tails or hugging them.  Do you live on a farm or a small apartment?  You wouldn’t want a Great Dane to share your 800 square foot condo.  Wishbone the Jack Russell terrier is adorable but this breed needs room to run out that extra energy.  A working or herding breed dog that needs a job to be happy works well for a farm.  Many websites are available to help you find the breed that fits your family situation.  Type in Choose a Dog Breed and take any of the quizzes that come up from Animal Planet, the Humane Society, and other web sites.

Another amazing option is to consider adopting a homeless pet from your local animal shelter or rescue group.  There are too many homeless animals that would make great loving pets if someone could provide them a wonderful home.  A great option is to place a stuffed dog or cat under the tree on Christmas morning with the promise of going to the shelter or rescue group to pick out your new family member.  Always consider the cost commitment when you take on the new pet.  Shelters and rescue groups can guide you with discount deals on first vaccines or spaying/neutering with local veterinarians but afterwards, do realize that yearly pet costs can start at $500 per year for a dog, $350 for a cat.  Additional medical expenses, obedience training, or simply buying high quality pet food can add up.

Gifting a furry family member is an awesome experience for a child.  Just be sure you have done a little research before you make the commitment.  It is our responsibility to be the guardians of our beloved pets as well as our children.  Picking the right pet will be an amazingly rewarding experience for the whole family.