It’s the holiday season, so whoop de doo and…well, you know the rest. The team at Thornhill Pet Hospital in Oakland, CA, wants to keep the “whoop de doo” in your (and your pet’s) holiday season, which is why we’ve created the following safety tips. Sometimes the holidays can bring certain hazards to dogs and cats, so we want to make sure your four-legged friends are safe. From our family to yours, have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year!
Plan Your Holiday Gatherings Wisely
Planning a Christmas or New Year’s party at your home? You know your pet better than anyone, so consider their behavior when determining whether or not to include them in the fun. If you know your pet gets jittery around a lot of people, it might be best to leave them in a separate room, away from the festivities. If your pet is well-behaved with people around, make sure your guests know your “pet house rules” to avoid any accidents.
Use Caution with Plants and Decorations
Although they may look beautiful and seem harmless, certain plants and decorations can be dangerous for pets. Mistletoe and holly are a couple plants on the list. Ingesting these plants can leave your pet feeling very sick or in need of emergency medical care. We recommend that you also avoid using tinsel, ribbons, or any other similar decoration if you have a cat or other curious pet. If ingested, these decorations can cause an obstruction in the digestive tract.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Table Food
We know it might be tempting to share your dinner or dessert with your four-legged friend, but before you do, it’s important to know which table foods are safe and which ones aren’t. Some of the safe table foods for pets include lean (boneless and skinless) meat like chicken and turkey. Other foods that are safe to feed your pet are apples (cut in small pieces), carrots, and green beans. Some of the foods to avoid are chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and foods made with the sugar substitute xylitol. Ingesting any of these toxic foods can result in a number of symptoms, ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, and even hypoglycemia (xylitol). Give your dog or cat a new yummy pet treat instead so they can enjoy the holidays without getting sick.
If you have any questions about these holiday pet safety tips, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment for your pet, give us a call at (510) 339-2041. Happy Holidays!