Ornaments on the tree, candles, tinsel, ribbons and wrapping paper. There's holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, and a tree in the living room! Grandma's creme de menthe brownies are resting on the counter and there are Christmas candies in every dish at dog-nose level!! The family will be over so Uncle Rob can feed his Turkey scraps and basically everywhere your pets turn, there is another hazard staring them in the face, or worse, taunting them.
Be smart this holiday season and make certain you, your pets, and your wallet stay out of the ER vet. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are soaking in the holiday spirit:
Decorations & wrapping material like ornaments, candles, tinsel, ribbons, and wrapping paper are fun toys. Even worse, homemade ornaments from flower and salt can become a tempting treat as this family tragically learned.
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| Picture from Facebook of Hope Pospisil with her family and dog Lexi who they lost to her consuming a handmade ornament of salt and flower. |
My cat has already been batting around the bell hanging low on our tree but that's OK because we hung the dangerous ones up higher.When my family starts opening gifts we have a designated ribbon roller and any tinsel goes right in a trash bag.
Our tree is fake but if you have a real one please avoid putting any tree additives in the water and change the water frequently, this is just another bowl from which your pets will drink. The tree preservatives that can be added to the water will definitely have you off to the ER, or inducing vomiting and hoping you got it all up.
Poinsettia's are beautiful but they are very toxic to our friends, consider the silk variety, definitely more expensive up front but they last longer and never need to be watered!
When uncle Rob tries to sneak his turkey skin to Fido from under the table go ahead and ask him up front for $1000, and his car keys, that's the minimum it will cost to handle the pancreatitis that it could cause, and that is hoping your dog makes it through. Stash the brownies in a pet safe container (or in my house, the microwave becomes a safe storage place).
Hide your electrical cords or spray them with some vinegar and cayenne pepper to deter any chewing.
Your home can still host the holiday spirit but just put some thought into how each change, addition or family member could be a hazard to your furry family members.
