Christmas is coming...
Emma Sansby MRCVS • November 26, 2019
Christmas is an exciting time of year for both us as owners and our pets with lots of food, presents and celebrations. However, these in turn can be quite the risk for our furry friends as many Christmas items can pose a threat to our pet’s health. There are many items we like to eat, drink and decorate our houses with around Christmas time, but there’s a few things to take extra care with when enjoying the festivities.
Who ate all the pies...?
Mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas puddings
All of these contain lots of dried fruits like raisins and currents which are toxic to dogs. Unfortunately there is no known toxic dose for these foods and as little as ONE raisin can be fatal. If you notice that your dog has eaten any dried fruits then please ring us immediately, the sooner we treat, the better the prognosis! If you have a really sneaky dog who likes to steal food without your knowledge, you are not alone!! The most common signs to look out for will be vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite and these are often seen within 24 hours of consumption.
Caught under the mistletoe:
Poinsettia plants and mistletoe
As pretty and as Christmassy as they are, please ensure they are out of reach of our lovely pets. Although rarely fatal, they are mildly toxic and can cause nasty irritations to our pets stomachs and intestines resulting in them becoming quite unwell with vomiting and diarrhoea.
All things merry and bright:
Christmas decorations
Unlike us, not all our pets like to admire decorations them at a distance. Many pets are very inquisitive and want to take a closer look at these new fancy decorations going up in the house, some even like to eat them! Baubles and other small tree ornaments, as well as presents from crackers and other small toys make the perfect sized objects for nosy pets to swallow, along with pieces of tinsel and string most commonly swallowed by cats. Objects like these commonly cause blockages in our pets stomachs and intestines. Most commonly this will result in vomiting, inappetence and generally looking quite dull and depressed.
Bang!
Fireworks
Although bonfire night might have passed, please keep your pets feeling safe! Fireworks displays are common around new years and this can be a very scary time for our pets. Please take a look at our advice section
on some methods to keep your pets calm during this time.
'Tis the season to be jolly!
Prevention is best!! Make sure you think ahead and look at your festive arrangements through the eyes of your pet, so as avoid an unwanted trip to the vets!
Unless your pet is the life and soul of any party then they may find lots of visitors stressful, especially if they are not used to large numbers or small excited children. Give them a quiet room to escape to, with their own bed and toys. Leave the radio or telly on to drown out loud noises.
Take dogs for a walk before visitors are expected so they are ready for a nap and let them meet visitors only if they want to. If friends and family are visiting or staying with their own pets make sure they get on before leaving them alone and be prepared to provide separate areas for them to have.
Why don't you share some of your pet's festive activities with us on our Facebook Page?
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM US ALL AT BILTON VETS
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