Its getting close to everyone's favourite time of the year... Christmas!
Christmas is the season for giving so it's only natural that we give to our pets too. Below are a few things to be mindful about when celebrating Christmas this year with your four-legged friends.
1. Decorations
Decorations can pose a risk to our four-legged friends especially if they are consumed! These include;
candy canes
chocolates - chocolate is toxic to pets and can make them sick if they ingest it.
ball decorations - they can break in their mouths and cause cuts and serious injury if swallowed.
tinsel - if ingested this can cause obstruction which can create a surgical emergency.
2. Human Food
Christmas can result in a lot of leftovers and as it's the season for giving the temptation can be to give our pets some of the leftovers. We do need to be careful though as not all human foods are safe for our pets and giving too much can make them sick or put on too much weight. Food we need to be careful with include;
Ham, Turkey and other meats - cooked meat is okay to give in small amounts. Giving meat, especially ham in large quantities puts your pet at risk of developing pancreatitis. The golden rule - never feed cooked bones as they can splinter and damage intestines. Ensure meat scrapes are free from sauces and marinades.
Sweet Treats -chocolates, Christmas pudding, currants, raisins, grapes, lollies and sugar free products are all worries if your pet ingests them. Many toxic and in large amounts can be fatal.
Stuffing - It is best to avoid giving your pet the stuffing as it can contain garlic and onion which can damage red blood cells if ingested by your pet
Anything else - Coffee, cheese, milk, nuts and flowers such as Lillies should all be avoided at Christmas time as they too pose hazards to your pets.
How can we help avoid our pets from getting injured or sick at Christmas?
Ensure you keep a close eye on your pet at all times
Take care with having little children around as they may drop food onto the floor
Be careful with gifts wrapped under the tree - especially chocolate
Keep rubbish bins out of reach of your pets as they may scavenge through
Ensure your guests are aware of the Christmas hazards for pets
Spoiling your pets
Here are some ideas for spoiling your pet in a safe and healthy way:
You can create a treasure hunt for your pet using their own treats or dry food
Use a recipe safe for pets to make them their own special treats
Spend some extra time with them
Purchase pet friendly treats and Christmas food
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