Paws and Claws

Keep your pets safe for a happy holiday season

by Cindy Anderson, DVM

December abounds with holiday celebrations and nothing can spoil your good cheer like an emergency veterinary visit. These tips can help keep your winter holiday season from becoming not-so-happy – for your pets and you.

Though the excitement of a party may overwhelm some pets, keep your pets inside during the cold weather and provide plenty of toys to keep them busy. A quiet room or crate may help them feel more comfortable and less stressed. Puzzle or interactive toys are a fantastic way to not only stimulate your dog’s mind, but also burn off excess energy.

Inform your guests ahead of time if you have pets or if others are bringing pets to your home. Guests with allergies or compromised immune systems need to be aware of the pets in your home so they can take precautions to protect themselves. If guests are bringing pets, it may be in everyone’s best interest to acclimate the pets to each other and monitor them closely for any problems, taking actions to avoid injuries to people and pets.

Consider your pets’ curiosity while decorating. Tinsel is impossible to ignore, especially for our nosy feline friends. Tinsel can become tangled in the digestive tract if ingested, usually only remedied with surgery. Some wrapping, ribbons, bows and strings also can cause a digestive tract obstruction. It is also a good idea to keep your holiday plants out of reach as poinsettias, holly and mistletoe are poisonous to your pets.

There also are many traditional foods we love that are not good for our pets. Fatty and spicy leftovers should not be fed to your pets as fatty foods can be hard to digest and cause pancreatitis. Do not feed your pets cooked bones as they can splinter and result in severe gastric or intestinal issues. Alcohol, walnuts, macadamia nuts also are good items for your pets to avoid. Holiday spices can cause stomach upset, especially sage, while nutmeg can cause neurological problems if ingested. Everyone seems to know that chocolate is a no-no, but basically any sweets can cause stomach trouble or worse for your pets.

The holidays are such a fun time for the whole family. Keep everyone in your home safe this year by following these helpful tips. Most of all, thank you for sharing your home with a furry loved one!

I, Dr. Cindy Anderson, and the staff of Lakelands Trail Veterinary Clinic of Stockbridge, hope you have a very merry holiday season and a happy new year.

Cindy Anderson, DVM

Cindy Anderson, DVM,  is a graduate of MSU Veterinary College (1992) and has practiced veterinary medicine for over 28 years.