Holiday Food and Pets. Be Careful
From Halloween until Easter it seems that there is always some type of food laying around the house that can prove to be a problem for pets. That’s not to suggest the other months are off the hook, but during the holidays it seems we’re always in the middle of candy and treats, rich food, chips and dips . . . You get the idea. Things we find delicious may be of interest to the canine, feline and any other ‘ine’ that shares our living quarters. I thought perhaps I’d take a moment to create an updated list of reasons to not let down our guard. Since I started writing about food, let’s consider just what might be a problem for our pets.
The holidays—with some exceptions—are usually abundant with rich, sweet, sometimes savory, often fatty foods that a cat here or a dog there will likely want to sample. They’re thinking, after all, 'if my servants (humans) are eating it, then it must be okay for me to help myself to a bite.' And our pet’s desire to add something new to their diets may find them sniffing around decorations and plants (think mistletoe, poinsettias or holly) believing they’ve, once again, found an edible treasure. If you find or suspect that your pet has sampled something toxic or poisonous, call your local veterinary provider or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
We’ve had wonderful dogs and cats as pets over the years and one of the things I find I’m always surprised to see is my dog or cat carrying around or gnawing on some bit of plastic or electrical wire, string, tinsel, gift-wrap or ribbon. On one occasion I found my dog walking around the house with something new in his mouth. It turned out it was a AA battery. And don’t ignore something like the string you used to tie the turkey, chicken, ham or roast. Think about all of the juicy flavors that were added to the string making it seem oh so delicious. Woof.
Let’s be honest. Our holiday imaginations were weaned on candles. From the first time you watch almost any version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, or attend a church service, light a menorah, watch carolers (or go caroling yourself) you’ll see candles. We’re reasonably instinctive about keeping candles away from small children. But cats and dogs? Well, maybe not so much. If you have open flame candles in the house make certain they are up and away from errant paws. (Oh, and it’ll keep them away from little children too.)
The Christmas Tree may be part of our annual celebration, but let’s be real. It’s unlikely your dog or cat remembers the tree from last year, or the rules governing the appropriate behavior around the tree. After all, it’s not outside to be sniffed (or worse) every day when walking the dog, so each year’s tree is, well, new, and it can become a center for a pet’s curiosity. Make certain your tree is placed where it is least likely to be climbed or jumped on, or simply knocked over. In general, remember that a corner location is probably best, and a tree in the middle of a room, I’d suggest, is the worst.
If you suspect that one of the gifts sent to you by Aunt Tiilly is for the dog or cat, it’s a good idea to NOT place her pet gifts under the tree. Generally speaking, dogs and cats cannot read the names on the labels. They can, however, smell what may be inside. And that’s trouble. Just retrieving that gift may be too much fun to resist for your pet and it’s possible, they may begin sniffing and “opening” other gifts just because they found a rawhide chew or catnip toy inside an earlier example of beautifully wrapped gift.
Place simple wooden, fabric, or solid ornaments on the bottom two feet of the tree. Whether just walking by or brushing against the tree, your pet may make a new discovery, or accidentally knock one off the tree. A mess (or worse) is the likely outcome.
We know that our pets are less than thrilled with 4th of July celebrations. Fireworks won't be abundant at Christmas, but New Years may be something else. Loud noises and unfamiliar activities may be unnerving to your dog or cat. Same with video games played too loudly.
Enjoy all of your holidays and keep them safe, for everyone!
Image by Sven Lachmann from Pixabay.
