Tips to Ensure Your Pets' Safety During the Holiday Season
Ensure a safe and joyful holiday season for your furry friends Discover expert advice on preventing pet health hazards, protecting your festive decorations, keeping presents out of reach, and reducing stress in pets Prioritize their well-being and your peace of mind!
Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter to receive a weekly roundup of tips and tools for a healthier and happier life. The holiday season can be a hazardous time for pets, with tempting decorations and potential dangers.
TSO Julie Schwallie performing pet screening demo at Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Sept. 27.
TSA
TSA reminds travelers to not put their pets through airport X-rays
"Consider this: to your cat and dog, that tree is an invitation to a party. It's filled with dangling ornaments that look an awful lot like the balls we give them to play with," explained Holly Sizemore, the chief mission officer for Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit, no-kill sanctuary for homeless animals that offers adoption, education, and spay and neuter services. And let's not forget the ribbons and yards of colorful paper cascading over gift boxes, which to cats are ready-made forts offering plenty of hiding places. When left unattended, furry friends can get into trouble, especially if they are already known troublemakers, such as Reniji, a 15-year-old Maine coon mix with four white paws.
Cheryl Padgett, Reniji's owner, expressed her exasperation via text: "Oh, he never learns. He's eaten curtain sheers, plastic or straw bristles from brooms, and will chew on any kind of mesh. And he'll try to eat any plant, real or artificial."
Reniji was 2 years old during "The Great Curling Ribbon Debacle," during which he "inhaled about a foot off a balloon I brought home from work in 30 seconds," Padgett said. Luckily, an endoscopy revealed no ribbons entangled in his intestines.
"His health is fine," she said. However, her pocketbook was not, as the vet bill amounted to $1,100. According to Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community, ingesting decorations during the holidays is a common situation that can lead to dangerous consequences. The organization provides support and professional development for the global veterinary healthcare community.
"Tinsel, garland, and all that curling ribbon on packages, even fabric ribbons, cats and dogs cannot break down any of that as part of their digestion," Varble said. "And even if the material doesnt get stuck, it can cause a lot of damage passing throughupset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea."
Reniji, a 15-year-old Maine coon mix, has pica, an urge to eat items that aren't food and don't have any nutritional value.
Cheryl Padgett
"It's not only cats that find themselves in trouble," she remarked. "I once witnessed a dog consuming an entire Christmas wreath, and it didn't end well. The poor thing had to undergo surgery. It's crucial to be absolutely certain that your pets won't indulge in your decorations.
"Otherwise, you should keep them out of reach of dogs and safely stowed away in closets, away from the curious cat. Even the Christmas tree needs to be positioned in a space where they can't view it as a tempting climbing structure."
The behavior of chasing and pouncing is natural for dogs and cats, so it's not fair to blame them for it, she explains. They are predators by nature, and this behavior is ingrained in them. Cats use their claws to catch prey and then consume it as part of their hunting instincts. This is how they outsmart the game against ribbon, wire, and even your Christmas ornaments, Varble said.
Toxic plants and food
There are other holiday dangers for your pets as well. Many flowers, plants and foods favored at the holidays are dangerous to cats or dogs or both, Varble said.
Protect your tree with a vet-approved tip: Purchase plastic mats, the type with spikes meant to go under an office chair, and place them upside down around the base of the tree. "The pokey ends are not enough to cause damage or cut their feet, but it's enough to deter them from wanting to be on top of that," explained Dr. Dana Varble from the North American Veterinary Community.
"During this time of year, it is common for people to receive beautiful red and white lilies or amaryllis bulbs," she explained. "It's important to note that lilies are highly toxic to cats - every part of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and pollen from the stamen, can lead to kidney failure and potentially death in cats."
Additionally, poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are also toxic holiday flowers that should be kept out of reach on high surfaces, Sizemore added.
"Chocolate is extremely dangerous for dogs, and it's important to keep foods such as grapes, onions, poultry bones, and alcohol away from your pets," Sizemore emphasized. "Even the water in a real Christmas tree can harbor bacteria, which can be harmful if ingested by a cat."
For pet poisoning assistance, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers a hotline. In 2022, the society aided 400,000 animals, representing a nearly 5% increase from 2021.
Over-the-counter human medications topped the list of the most common poisons in 2022, according to the ASPCA. They were followed by food poisoning from protein bars, products containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, grapes, raisins, and other toxic foods. Prescription medications for humans came in third as the most common poison.
Should pets sleep with their owners? According to Dr. Dana Varble, the chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community, it is generally a beneficial practice for animals to sleep with their human companions. Delilah, a 10-year-old Siberian husky, seems to suggest otherwise: "Do you really think there's enough room for you?"
Courtesy Brawner Raymond
Beast, a 106-pound European Doberman, claims the biggest part of the bed so he can spread out comfortably, accompanied by his siblings Buttercup, Bear, Joey, and Bailey, as pictured in the photo taken by Stephanie Moody from Rue's Rescue & Sanctuary.
"Hi I'm Tessie, a 4-year-old Australian cattle dog. I love sleeping with my girls so much that when they go to the store i snuggle with their bed toys until they get back."
David Allan
"In the animal world, animals who are bonded tend to sleep together," Varble said. Lynx (top) and Luna (bottom) are 2-year-old Siberian Forest cats.
Sandee LaMotte/CNN
"Come on, Dad, that's enough sports for tonight. It's time for bed." -- Ellie, a 6-year-old German shorthaired pointer, who likes to sleep under the covers next to her humans.
Courtesy Trent Loyd
Sharing their human's bed, dogs and cats tend to develop a deeper bond and trust with their owners. According to Varble, this demonstrates a significant level of trust on the part of the animals. Banshee, a 6-year-old Husky mix, is a rescue who managed to survive heartworms.
- Stephanie Moody, Rue's Rescue & Sanctuary
According to Varble, when a dog turns their back to you, it's a significant display of trust because it puts them in a vulnerable position where they can't keep watch for danger. Mason, a 3-year-old lab mix, enjoys sleeping next to his dad every night but refuses to use covers.
Courtesy Trent Loyd
"Dogs and cats that have a closer bond with their human companions experience added health advantages," Varble added, such as higher levels of oxytocin and dopamine, the "feel-good" hormones. "What? I don't snore!" - Luna, a 2-year-old Siberian Forest cat.
Source: Sandee LaMotte/CNN
Ensure that all the pets in your household are kept current on flea, tick, and internal parasite prevention, especially if you plan to allow them on your bed," Varble recommended. Molly (left), a 15-year-old cockapoo mix, enjoys sleeping in her owner's armpit, while Evie (right) prefers the foot of the bed and detests being woken up early.
Courtesy Ryan Pollyea
"Like us, animals have unique personalities," Varble explained. "Just as some people prefer sleeping with the lights on while others like complete darkness, pets also have varying traits. Some may be more protective, while others may have a more assertive nature." Evie, a 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix, has been observed seeking more affection by crawling onto her human.
By Ryan Pollyea
According to Varble, a dog that sleeps at the foot of the bed with its face towards the door may have a more protective nature. "I'm so relieved that Beast, the bed hog, is gone so I can finally get some much-needed sleep," commented Buttercup, a 4-year-old beagle-bulldog mix.
Courtesy Stephanie Moody/Rue's Rescue & Sanctuary
"I may appear angelic, but at night I have a habit of walking or sitting on my humans and attempting to smell their breath. I also like to drape my 2-foot-long body across their necks around 3 a.m." -- Lynx, a 2-year-old Siberian Forest cat.
Sandee LaMotte/CNN
Is sleeping with your pets good for them?
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Hide presents from pets
If you're unsure of what's inside a present, Varble recommends storing gifts in a closet until it's time to unwrap them. "There might be chocolates and food hidden in presents, and dogs have a knack for sniffing out chocolate with their incredible sense of smell - whether it's in plastic containers, wrapped in paper, stashed in a purse, or hidden in a cabinet that they can suddenly open," she explained. "It's very dangerous. The most extreme case I've witnessed was a dog that consumed a 3-pound chocolate bar in its entirety. That dog became very ill."
Resisting those pleading eyes may be difficult, but it's actually a way to show more love for your pets during the holidays by avoiding giving them table scraps, bones, and other treats, according to Varble.
"This time of year we often see cases of pancreatitis and upset stomachs from pets indulging in too many treats or ones they're not accustomed to," she explained. "You can still make your pet feel special during the holidays by adding canned food to their regular meals or by preparing plain chicken and rice for them. This is often recommended for dogs with upset stomachs, but they really enjoy it and consider it a special treat."
Stress can sicken pets
Stress is one holiday danger people may not think of, Varble said. Just like people, pets can overreact to the frantic holiday pace.
John Joyner/NC State Veterinary Medicine
A study suggests that older dogs with sleep problems may be suffering from dementia. According to the study, stress-related disorders in dogs and cats are more common during this time of year, leading to more emergency room visits. Symptoms in dogs typically include vomiting and diarrhea, while in cats, concerns arise over inappropriate urination and scratching. These issues are often attributed to changes in their owners' schedules.
She emphasized that animals thrive on routine and may not react well to changes in their schedules due to holiday visitors and preparations. "They take comfort in the predictability of my daily walk, treat, mealtime, and snuggle time," she explained. "It's crucial to make an effort to stick to your pet's routine during the holiday season."
