Christmas tends to be an exciting time of year for most of us. Getting to spend time with loved ones, eating far too much decadent food, the giving and receiving of gifts, and decorating our house in ways that give Santa’s Grotto a run for his money.  

Whilst this is fun for us humans, what we may be unaware of is the anxiety and dangers this festive season can potentially bring to our four-legged friends. The holiday season often introduces new stimuli, decorations and foods that can pose risks to our pets.

Here are some helpful tips and reminders to make sure your pets stay happy and healthy this festive season.

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1.     Toxic foods to cats and/or dogs

A lot of common Christmas food and drinks can be toxic and harmful to our furry friends. These include; alcoholic beverages, chives, garlic and onions, chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts (most nuts can be harmful), grapes and raisins, salt, mouldy foods, sugar, cooked bones

Always keep human food out of reach of your pets but if you suspect your pet has ingested toxic food, get in touch with your vet immediately or reach out to an emergency animal poison hotline. It might also be a good idea to remind visitors not to feed your pets anything without your permission.

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2.     Christmas Trees & Decorations

Whether you are decorating your house to the nines, or just putting up a tree, the way we bedeck our home with Christmas decorations can potentially pose a risk to our pets.

Some ways to avoid this includes;

- Hanging your ornaments and lights high to avoid cats or dogs getting hold of them

- Avoid chocolate/edible decorations

- Consider having an artificial tree as dropped pine needles and oil produced by pine, fir, and spruce trees may be highly toxic to dogs, as well as potentially getting stuck in their paws.

- Holly, mistletoe and ivy can be toxic to dogs so keep this out of reach.

- Make sure your pet isn’t able to chew on any electrical wires by keeping them covered and out of reach.

- If you are using a live tree make sure the base is covered. This is because the water used to feed the tree may contain chemicals or pesticides.

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3.     Pets & guests

Some pets are not used to having a house full of people which may cause them to get overwhelmed. To help with this, exercise your pet before everyone arrives as this can burn off some energy.  When our dogs have excess energy they can become hyperactive and frustrated, meaning they may jump up on house guests or start barking excessively. Don’t ruin nans Christmas jumper!

Another good idea is to create a cosy area full of their favourite toys/blankets/comforters/litter trays, away from the noise and chaos. This can give them a place to relax and avoid being over stimulated. Some businesses provide various sprays or diffuses which can release calming scents for your pets.

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If you would like anymore information on keeping your pets safe at Christmas here are some more handy resources:

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/christmas/petsafe

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/christmas-dangers-for-dogs

https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-care-advice/toxic-food-dogs

https://www.vets-now.com/2023/12/foods-poisonous-to-cats/

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From everyone here at Cliverton, we hope you have a happy and healthy Christmas and a Merry New Year.

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