Pet dangers at Christmas for dogs and cats

We know chocolate isn’t good for dogs, but there are plenty of other things to keep from your furry friends this festive season. From fatty foods to other strange hazards, a Melbourne vet tells what to steer clear of.

Don’t let your pets near chocolate this Christmas.

It’s Christmas time. As we put up our trees, lights and tinsel, it’s a good idea to think about the common dangers we see as vets to pets during the festive season.

FOOD DANGERS

Chocolate: Chocolate is dangerous to dogs because of the stimulants they contain (like theobromine), that cause dogs to get sick. The darker the chocolate, the more stimulants, and the less chocolate it takes to cause illness. Making dogs vomit immediately will help to decontaminate the stomach.

Some pets will eat anything, but don’t let them near chocolate, a vet has warned.

Grapes and sultanas: There is a substance in grapes and sultanas that in certain dogs will cause sudden kidney failure. We don’t know which dogs are going to be susceptible, so we recommend no access to anything with grapes or sultanas, especially Christmas puddings and cakes. We make the dogs vomit up what they have eaten, then work out risks and what we will need to do.

Fatty foods: If pets eat foods that contain too much fat, they can develop pancreatitis, where the pancreas becomes inflamed and can cause severe tummy pain and vomiting.

Treatment can be intensive and expensive. Try to avoid giving your pets fatty meats like sausages, ham — and especially old ham bones, this is a classic problem.

Different diets: If we give our pets new foods that we are eating at Christmas time that they are not used to, especially if they have sensitive tummies, we will often see them develop vomiting and diarrhoea.

Flowers: Remember lilies kill cats. If you are giving flowers to someone with a cat, make sure there are no lilies in the bunch — if there is, chuck the lilies out.

FOREIGN OBJECTS

Tinsel and ribbon: Cats and some dogs love playing with lovely long bits of tinsel and ribbon. However sometimes they can swallow them, which can cause an obstruction in their bowels and they’ll need surgery to remove.

Only the tastiest treats will do — but tinsel is not one of them.

Roast netting, barbecue skewers, and other tasty rubbish: Dogs and some cats love getting into all that yummy tasty meaty rubbish left over from cooking, and given half a chance will raid the bin and get into some terrible trouble. Seeing a skewer poking out of your pet is not going to be a great Boxing Day.

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Balls and toys: When you buy your pet their Christmas presents, make sure they are an appropriate size for your pet. If it’s something they can get in their mouth make sure its not small enough to swallow, and that can’t be broken up into little bits that can be swallowed and cause a blockage.

WEIRD STUFF

Christmas tree water: Ever wondered what the water tastes like that your Christmas tree sits in? Neither have I. But your pets may love it. The longer the water sits there, it will become dirty and possibly make your pet sick if they drink it. Try covering with a small amount of chicken wire over the top.

The happiest time of the year for a cat, just watch they don’t knock over the Christmas tree.

Falling Christmas trees: For 11 months of the year, indoor cats yearn for a tree to climb on in their house like they see out their window. Come December 1, their dreams come true, as a veritable indoor playground goes up right in their lounge room. Make sure your tree is stable enough to be able to stand if your cat decides to parkour onto your nicely decorated, and often electrified, tree.

Broken baubles: Knocking off baubles is one of a pet’s favourite Christmas activities. If you have timber floorboards, or very thin glass baubles, dropping from a high after being batted by a furry foot, there is a very good chance of it breaking, and possibly getting glass into paws.

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Wrapped food presents under the tree: Pets don’t need to shake presents to work out what is inside them — they will use their nose. And if they smell food in a present under the tree, no amount of tight-cornered wrapping paper and sticky tape will stop them getting to their target. Make sure you keep food presents well out of reach of your pets (and hungry dads).

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a blast.

Dr Robbie Anderton is a veterinarian at Waverley Animal Hospital and co-stars in Two Vets Talk Pets podcast.