Holiday Hazards for Your Pets

'Tis the season to be jolly, and your pets want to celebrate as much as you do. They can't wait for the turkeys, hams, desserts, decorations, parties, and, best of all, the Christmas tree. All of these holiday items and events can cause problems or even be dangerous for your pet.

Think about your pets' needs before company arrives. Is your cat terrified by a house full of people? Does your dog tend to jump on guests? Do your pets snap or bite if handled too much? It may be less stressful for them and your guests to put animals in a quiet room by themselves during gatherings.

If you plan to have houseguests, assess your pet's behavior and take corrective action before you have problems. For example, you may have elderly or frail guests, or those that do not care for dogs. Train your dog not to jump on guests and to behave calmly. Train your pets not to beg, and to sit quietly before they get any meals.

If your pets are social and enjoy gatherings, you still must be careful. Guests may place food or drinks within reach of your pets, feeding them treats without your knowledge. Dogs especially love alcohol and chocolate. Both can be dangerous and bring on coma or death. If your dog staggers, loses coordination, or is sleeping so soundly during or after a party that you cannot wake him, get him to a veterinary hospital immediately.

Holiday turkeys and hams are very tempting to dogs and cats. They can eat large quantities, cooked or raw, in a short time. Often this results in an upset belly, vomiting and diarrhea for a day or two. In some cases, dogs, especially, get severe pancreatitis from eating foods to which they are not accustomed.

Remember, anything used to prepare or serve the holiday dinner is inviting to your pets. This includes skewers and strings used to close the turkey, and carving knives. Attempts to swallow these items bring predictably bad results. Bones should not be fed to pets, especially ham bones. These are exactly the right size to get lodged in intestines. If this happens, it is a surgical emergency.

Cats like to chew on plants. Be careful with poinsettias. Although not severely toxic, poinsettias can give your cats an upset belly with some vomiting. To help keep your cats happy and away from household plants, provide them with wheatgrass to chew on.

The Christmas Tree. Pets adore these as much as you do. Cats like to climb on them until they fall over. Dogs prefer to body slam them. Pets and youngsters can get cut feet from stepping on broken ornaments. Dogs and cats sometimes like to mark trees with urine. Dogs like to eat ornaments and candy canes, including the wrappers. Many pets like to chew on light cords, which can shock or kill them. Dogs and cats eat tinsel, which can lodge in their intestines and cause a blockage.

If you have pets, anchor your Christmas tree to the wall in two spots for stability. Avoid all edible ornaments, and avoid putting breakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree. Tape light cords against the tree or wall, so they aren't lying on the floor, inviting your pets to chew on them. Avoid tinsel altogether if you have young, playful pets. They see it as a moving, irresistible toy.

Make sure your pets get plenty of attention and exercise during the holiday season. This makes them less likely to get into mischief. Check with your veterinarian for more suggestions.

Reprinted with permission from University of Minnesota Veterinary Outreach Program.