(COLORADO) — Colorado State University (CSU)’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital said the holidays can be dangerous for pets as they spend more time indoors and new things are in the house that can pose a danger.
Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Dr. Amanda Cavanagh shared some of the top problem areas pet owners should be aware of and how best to mitigate any danger pets could face.
Loose cords
Dr. Cavanagh said new cords tend to show up around the holidays such as dangling Christmas lights plugged in near the holiday tree. The novelty of these cords can entice dogs and cats to chew on them. During a potential electrocution injury, some cords can cause their jaws to clamp down so hard they cannot free themselves.
Electrocution can be deadly for smaller puppies or kittens. People with rabbits or ferrets loose in the house should also be aware of this danger. Dr. Cavanagh recommends taping any loose cords onto the floor or running them under carpets.
Candy in wrapping paper
CSU said during the holidays people will often package candy in holiday wrapping paper and put it under the tree, which is dangerous for pets as both the candy and wrapping paper can cause injuries.
Dr. Cavanagh suggests keeping an eye out for anything with chocolate and raisins. Chocolate is poisonous, and raisins can cause kidney injuries. The wrapping paper can block an animal’s intestines and lead to a surgical emergency.
Cat owners are recommended to keep an eye out for any loose tinsel or ribbons in the house as cats will eat both which can cause intestinal obstructions.
Faulty automatic food and water dispensers
Dr. Cavanagh said people who have cats will often travel and leave their pet at home with an automatic food and water dispenser but these are not foolproof. Cats can get trapped in a closet or the water bowl can get knocked over.
Those who are going to leave their cat alone for long periods of time are suggested to have someone check on them every 24 hours to make sure they are okay.
Intermingling pets
When visitors show up for an extended holiday stay and bring along a pup or two it should not be a given that those animals are going to happily mingle with dogs that are already living in the house.
“Be very cautious introducing new dogs to each other,” Cavanagh said. “People are surprised that not all dogs will just get along together in a house!”
Dr. Cavanagh suggests keeping dogs leashed so that an adult can easily stay in control of any situation and also making sure little kids don’t get caught in any dog scuffles accidentally getting bit.
House fires
If you are headed out of town for an extended period for the holidays and leaving a pet at home make sure a neighbor or firefighters know there is an animal in the home. Dr. Cavanagh said fire departments will likely go to great lengths to save an animal if they know there’s one inside. A sign can be put on the front door so emergency responders know to look for an animal.
Homeowners when they are in town should make sure any animal carriers are easily accessible in the event a quick evacuation is needed.
Table scraps
Feeding dogs and cats pieces from the table is a bad idea said Dr. Cavanagh. Table scraps can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis. Dr. Cavanagh recommends keeping a dog’s feeding schedule consistent during the holidays and making sure visitors know not to feed a dog from the table.
“My vote is just don’t do it,” Cavanagh said. “Especially during the holidays when everything is buttery and oily and salty and there’s gravy.”
Toxic plants
Many holiday plants such as poinsettias and mistletoe are toxic but likely not fatal to dogs and cats, according to Dr. Cavanagh. A pet that eats a toxic plant may experience drooling, mouth irritation, and upset stomachs. Lilies are the bigger problem for cats however, they can cause liver failure.
Another toxic item is Teflon cookware, this cookware can release toxic gases that are fatal to birds, said Dr. Cavanagh.
