Christmas is the season to eat, drink, and be merry—but it’s also full of temptations for our furry friends! From irresistible festive scents to food left unattended and shiny decorations that beg to be pawed and chewed, the holidays can be a tricky time for pets. To help you keep your four-legged companion safe and sound this Christmas, we’ve put together some top tips. With a little extra care, you can enjoy the festivities without any unexpected trips to the vet!
What foods should I avoid?
Many of our festive favourites are known to be toxic to dogs and cats and should be kept well out of paws reach:
Chocolate – chocolate is toxic to dogs and even small amounts can cause serious illness. Ensure that chocolates are not left on the tree or lying around. The level of toxicity is influenced based on the amount eaten and how dark the chocolate is. Please contact us if you wish to determine if a significant quantity has been eaten.
Christmas pudding and mince pies – grapes and dried vine fruits, including currants, sultanas and raisins, can cause severe kidney failure. These can be dangerous, even if only a small quantity is eaten. It is often advisable to induce vomiting within a few hours of ingestion to reduce the potential of serious kidney injury.
Onions (and garlic, leeks, shallots and chives) – these all belong to the allium species of plant and are poisonous to dogs and cats, whether cooked or uncooked. Avoid feeding foods that include these ingredients, such as gravy or stuffing.
Alcohol – alcohol has a similar effect in dogs as it does in their owners. Make sure your dog can't help themselves to any unattended alcohol left lying around. Best to ensure you keep all the Bailey’s to yourself!
Macadamia nuts – macadamia nuts are often found in biscuits and used as snacks at Christmas. They can cause weakness, vomiting, increased body temperatures or tremors in dogs.
Cheese - Although morsels of cheese can be an occasional treat, be aware that some types, such as blue cheese can produce toxins that cause convulsions in dogs.
Leftovers – don’t be tempted to give your dog leftover Christmas food – they can include hidden ingredients toxic to dogs and mould in leftovers can make them ill.
It is also a common misapprehension that it is safe to give leftover bones to pets. All bones, have the potential to cause problems if swallowed. Bones can splinter, getting lodge in the oesophagus or cause damage to the guts.
Care around the Christmas tree
Our pets are easily intrigued by colourful baubles or strings of lights. Be aware the baubles can easily shatter and cause injury to tiny paws.
Some cats are often determined to climb the Christmas tree - the last thing anyone wants is the Christmas tree to come tumbling down, or cats getting entangled in the string of lights. The Christmas tree lights also can cause burns or electrocution if chewed. So it is best to keep them away from pets, or only have them in the rooms where your pets can be closely supervised.
Home-made or joyous gifts from kids, salt dough ornaments are tempting to pets, but can prove fatal with salt toxicosis if ingested.
Be aware of presents under the tree. Avoid leaving food gifts or hampers near curious noses and you may want to tuck fancy ribbon bows out of the cats reach. This tempting toy can cause serious complications if accidentally ingested.
What Christmas plants are dangerous to pets?
Christmas plants make the season all the more festive, but the following traditional Christmas plants are known to be toxic to dogs:
Poinsettia - Can cause irritation to the mouth, drooling, stomach pain and vomiting.
Holly - The berries from a holly bush can cause stomach upset.
Mistletoe - Can cause drooling, retching and vomiting
Ivy - Can cause vomiting if ingested, or skin irritation on contact.
Lilies - Lilies are poisonous to cats, as is the water they sit in. Ingestion of any part of this plant has the potential to cause kidney damage.
Potpourri - The essential oils applied to Potpourri can be toxic to pets if ingested or through skin contact. Additionally, the hard pine cones or bark can potentially cause an obstruction if ingested.
Avoid the Stress at Christmas time
The festive fun can get a little overwhelming for our four-legged friends, so here are our helpful tips for a stress-free Christmas (for our pets at least!)
Learn to interpret your dogs body language and read signs of stress. Subtle signs your dog might be stressed include:
yawning – unless your dog is tired
panting – often with a curled tip of their tongue instead of relaxed
pacing back and forth
licking their lips
ears pinned back
dilated pupils or red around the eyes
whites of their eyes showing (whale eye)
Stay calm yourself
Dogs are very in tune with their owners emotions. If your dog is stressed, to try stay calm and not raise your own voice, as this may only add to your pet’s stress.
Don't dress them up.
Although it may seem fun for you, some dogs find this stressful. Instead, why don't you try to make them their own Christmas present or dog safe Christmas treat to enjoy.
Should you have any pet related concerns over this Christmas period, we at Vetsy are always here to assist. You may be looking for simple advice, to source medication or prescriptions over the holiday season or worried about a potential toxin exposure. We are happy to help.
