It’s finally acceptable to put Christmas decorations up! Woohoo! Who else took all their decorations out immediately on the 1st of December? (Don’t tell anyone, but we certainly did not wait until December….) We couldn’t help it! Who doesn’t love the festive season? The sparkling ornaments, twinkling lights and Christmas songs…it really is the most wonderful time of the year! With the holidays here, it’s important to keep your fur babies in mind. Continue reading to make sure you have a pet safe Christmas!
OH, CHRISTMAS TREE!
How many of you have already gotten your Christmas tree up and decorated? In our house, decorating the tree is a family tradition, it's such a fun way to spend time together as a family during the holidays. Putting up baubles with Christmas tunes in the background. Ah…it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
While it's fun to decorate and beautiful to look at, did you know that real Christmas trees (or Fir trees) are actually considered to be mildly toxic to cats, dogs and other pets? (The same goes for Hollies and Mistletoes.) So if you're planning on bringing in real holiday plants in your home this year, remember to check if they are safe for your pets first!
However, this doesn't mean you are in the clear with an artificial tree either! (Especially if your pet is a 'muncher'!) There are many other hazards to watch out for as well even if you're using an artificial tree. Tinsels, string lights and baubles are just a few of many potential hazards during the festive season. There are countless stories of pets getting tangled up in tinsels, resulting in serious damage to their health. Small ornaments can also be choking hazards for playful pets. These are just a few examples. But don't worry, this doesn't mean you can't have extravagant decorations, just be smart and cautious of your pets! Choose larger baubles and ornaments, make sure your pet is never left alone with tinsels and string lights and just keep an eye on your pets when they're near the Christmas tree!
LET'S DECORATE!
When it comes to decorating your home for Christmas, here are a few you should be wary of during the holiday season when it comes to your pets. First up...candles. (This should be an obvious one.) Curious pets may want to investigate the mysterious dancing flame or sniff the irresistible scent. Make sure to keep your pets away from the open flames and remember to put them out when you are out of the room!
Snow globes are another decoration you should be wary of. Cats might find the little specs of snow irresistible to stare at and may try to knock it over. It goes without saying that broken glass is a hazard, but did you know the liquid inside snow globes contains antifreeze? If digested and not treated immediately, pets could die from antifreeze poisoning. So remember to watch out for your snow globes! Keep them away from pets and clean up thoroughly if it breaks!
While there are many decorations you should be wary of, the last one we will talk about in this post is string lights/fairy lights. Everyone loves a bit of Christmas lights to bring in the holiday cheer. We mentioned previously about pets being tangled up in them, but it is also crucial to remember that they contain electricity. Pets are always curious about dangly wires, so make sure they don't start chewing on them to prevent electricity shocks and burns in their little mouths!
THE FEAST
One thing I absolutely love about this time of the year is when the whole family gathers around for Christmas dinner. I can already smell the home cooked meal! While the food is enjoyable for us humans, be careful what your curious pets might get into. This includes (but not limited to) onions and garlic, chocolate, nutmeg, mince pies and Christmas pudding. If your pet consumes a large quantity of any of the listed items, keep a tight eye on them for 24 hours and call your vet immediately if they start throwing up, runny stool, or excessive panting as it could lead to seizures or worse.
If you want to treat your pets this Christmas (who doesn't?), there are hundreds, if not thousands, of holiday recipes made just for pets. All you have to do is a quick search on Pinterest or Google!
Thank you so much for reading this post and we hope you found it informative! With all of these reminders in mind, we wish you all a wonderful and most importantly, a pet safe Christmas!