Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays
Oh – those glorious holidays! Tinsel, angel hair, lights, fragile ornaments, holiday foods, power cords, candles, wreaths, potpourri, water containers for the tree! Oh my, these look like a lot of potential dangers for our little pets.
Each year pets hundreds of pets are injured or killed because pet owners fail to take certain precautions during the holiday season. Pets tend to be curious little beings, and are drawn to the vivid colors that are used for holiday decoration. Pretty tinsel, glittering ornaments, flickering lights – these are great eye catchers for not only us, but our pets as well.
Let’s review just a handful of potential accidents waiting to happen during the holiday season. Also included are some helpful solutions.
1. Christmas Tree – You may find that you’ll need to place the tree in an ‘off-limits’ area to your pet. You’ll see new meaning in the song, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” when your cat or kitten climbs your tree. Another solution is to put your tree on higher ground.
2. Bracing your tree – Make certain that your tree will not tip over. A collapsing tree is not only a danger to your pet, but children as well.
3. Live Christmas Tree Water Container – Pets can be drawn to the water which can contain harmful substances from the tree. A few shots of bitter apple spray should keep Fido away.
4. Icicles – If you’re using icicles from a few years back, they could be crafted of lead. Icicles draw pets due to the flickering they produce from the smallest of drafts. They can also present a potential choking hazard if eaten.
5. Loose tinsel. The dangling rope of garland is sometimes irresistible to pets. This applies even more so to cats. Older tinsel could be crafted of metal or lead, which is toxic when ingested. Tinsel is also a waiting noose.
6. Ground lights. Just about all pets love to chew; it’s in their nature! The potential danger with ground lights is electrocution and again, the waiting noose.
7. Powerstrips – fire, shock, or electrocution potentials.
8. Angel Hair – A web of pain or death. Some types of angel hair is basically spun glass. Once it’s rubbed into the skin, or pelt, the ‘victim’ suffers greatly and it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to remove.
9. Ornaments – Fragile ornaments can shatter into thousands of tiny fragments if a pet crunches down on one. Also, ornaments crafted of glitter, Styrofoam, satin string and pipe cleaners can do all sorts of bad things to your pet.
10. Wreaths, potpourri, candles, plaster and glass decorations, scissors tape dispensers, markers, pens, and toxic plants should be displayed in places that are inaccessible to your pet.
11. Goodies – Poultry bones can be lethal to your pet. They tend to shear and the tiny fragments can become lodged inside your pet’s throat. Holiday goodies for your pet should be avoided or kept to a minimum. Your pet isn’t used to the richness of the foods and could experience nausea or diarrhea. Pets should never be given chocolate.
12. Presents – Your pet could become tangled in bows and ribbons.
13. Stockings – Noses can get stuck in the ends of stockings and the pet could suffocate. In addition, stockings hung over the fireplace can be dislodged by a pet, creating a fire hazard.
14. Holiday Guests – If your pet is not accustomed to strangers visiting your home, you may want to secure your pet for the duration. This is especially important if your visitors include young children who are not used to being around pets.
15. Pet First Aid, developed by the Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States, is an important guide to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to the emergency needs of their pets. Contact your local American Red Cross to purchase your copy, or ask for Pet First Aid at your local bookstore.
We hope that these tips assist you as you prepare for the holidays. May you and your pet have a happy and safe holiday season!
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