Happy Holidays with your Pets

November and December are traditionally a time for holiday parties and large get-togethers and meals, and many feel tempted to share the feast with our furrier loved ones.  Just about every vet and every book about training recommends against that, the reason being that many table foods are too fatty for the digestive systems of most animals, can lead to severe stomach upsets, & can occasionally even trigger possibly fatal pancreatic inflammation. 

Still, the vast majority of owners feed their dog or cat some table scraps, at least once in awhile. Fairy Dogparents would like to offer you some guidelines for that, plus a few holiday-specific safety reminders to keep your holidays happy and fun.  (If you find one we missed, please send it along via email and we will add it on!)

To keep your pets safe this season, please look over the following suggestions:

Never give your pets chicken or turkey bones.  Chicken and turkey bones can splinter and puncture the stomach or intestines.


Don’t fill up your pets bowl with fatty table scraps. If you do share some, remember rice and vegetables are a better choice than lots of meats or sweets.


Never give chocolate to your pets; it can be toxic.


Keep an eye on the holiday table, and make sure to put garbage into tightly covered cans.


Call your vet if your pet shows signs of stomach upset - diarrhea or vomiting -  or if you know your pet has gotten into a large amount of table food.

 

 

Don't feed your pets duck, venison, pork or veal due to the high fat content.  Spicy foods can also cause an upset stomach.

Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are poisonous. Make sure they are kept in places your pets cannot reach.

 

 

Both live and artificial tree needles are sharp and indigestible, so try to keep them off the floor if your pet takes an interest in them.

 

 

Check for evidence of chewing on the electrical cords. Pets who chew them and could get shocked or electrocuted. Hide cords out of reach, or invest in cord covers if you have habitual cord chewers.

 

Keep ornaments off the lower branches to prevent breakage or consumption.  

 
Swallowing/chewing tinsel can be dangerous for dogs & cats. It may obstruct circulation and, if swallowed, block the intestines.

 

Keep burning candles out of the way of wagging tails and curious kittys.