Having a happy & safe Christmas with your pet

11 December 2020 by Elissa Roberts

Well that time of year is upon us again! And after the year that has been 2020, we are all looking forward to the festivities & family time Christmas brings! To ensure the furry member/s of your family can enjoy the day with you, there are a few things you should be mindful of.

Christmas trees whilst a festive addition to any household, can pose some risks to your pets - tinsel, ribbon **and **baubles if ingested can cause a life threatening intestinal obstruction requiring surgery to remove. If you’re lucky enough to have a real Christmas trees, pine needles can cause stomach upsets if your cat or dog decides to have a munch. Christmas light electrical cords can also be tempting for your dog or cat to chew on, and risk electrical burns or even electrocution. If you have a particularly inquisitive pet it may be worth considering putting a play pen gates around the tree to limit access
Poinsettias, Holly **& **Mistletoe can really add to the Christmas ambiance of a home, but if ingested by our pets they can cause some stomach irritation (vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy), so best to ensure they are kept out of reach
It might be tempting to treat your dog with the left over ham boneor remnants of the roast chook or turkey, but unfortunately cooked bones are very brittle and can shatter when a pet eats them causing damage to the intestinal tract or even an intestinal obstruction, so it’s best to throw these items in the bin.
The best part of Christmas (in my opinion) is all the delicious food we get to treat ourselves to. Unfortunately, our pets can’t share this joy with us. Macadamia nuts, sultanas, grapes, chocolate, onion and garlic are all toxic to pets should be avoided. Fatty foods such as bacon, cheese, marrow bones have been linked to pancreatitis an incredibly painful and potentially life threatening condition in both cats and dogs so best to steer clear of feeding these foods to your pets.
If you have overindulged on the beer or wine this Christmas and are reaching for the ibuprofen or Paracetamol to keep the hangover at bay, please remember to keep them out of your pet’s fluffy little mitts, as these medications can be life threatening if consumed
Being in Australia, our Christmas period can be notoriously hot. Whilst we humans sweat to regulate our body temperature, our poor pets lack this ability and pant to regulate their body temperature. Short nosed breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs & Frenchies have altered respiratory tracts and can really struggle to cool themselves in the warmer weather making them at risk of heat stroke, although all animals can be affected. Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, agitation, vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, weakness and collapse. To help prevent heatstroke avoid exercising your pet in the heat, provide plenty of shade (or even better – air conditioning) and ensure access to fresh, cool water at all times. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, if you think your pet is affected please take them straight to emergency.

We hope these tips can help you and your pet have a safe, stress free and Merry Christmas. Of course if you are worried about your pet during the Christmas period -we are here to help. Simply book a Medechat appointment from home or come in and see us.