Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Holiday Season: A Complete Guide for Pet Parents

The holiday season brings joy, festivities, and celebrations into our homes. However, what delights humans can often pose serious risks to our beloved pets. Understanding these hazards and taking proper precautions can help ensure a safe and happy holiday season for all family members, including our four-legged ones.

Decoration Dangers: The Hidden Risks

One of the most serious yet overlooked holiday hazards is tinsel, which should never be used either indoors or outdoors. While this shimmering decoration may add sparkle to your holiday décor, it poses a severe risk to both household pets and wildlife. When ingested, tinsel can create what veterinarians call a "linear foreign body." This condition occurs when the stringy material becomes trapped in the digestive system, potentially sawing through intestinal walls or wrapping around the tongue, cutting off vital circulation. The result can be life-threatening and often requires emergency surgery.

Holiday Events and Your Pet's Well-being

While holiday light shows, fireworks displays, and festive gatherings may be highlights of the season for humans, they can be overwhelming experiences for our pets, particularly dogs. Large crowds, unexpected loud noises, and unfamiliar environments can trigger severe anxiety in our canine companions. Instead of bringing your dog to these events, consider creating a peaceful environment at home where they can feel secure and comfortable.

Additional Holiday Safety Considerations

Holiday Plants and Greenery

Traditional holiday plants require careful consideration. Poinsettias, while only mildly toxic, can cause digestive upset. More dangerous are lily varieties, which can be lethal to cats even in small amounts. Holly berries and mistletoe are also highly toxic to pets. Consider artificial alternatives, or place real plants well out of reach.

Christmas Tree Safety

Your Christmas tree can present multiple hazards. Secure it firmly to prevent tipping, and cover the water reservoir to prevent pets from drinking the water, which may contain harmful fertilizers and bacteria. Consider using plastic or wooden ornaments instead of breakable glass ones, especially on lower branches where pets can reach them.

Food Hazards

Holiday meals and treats can be particularly dangerous for pets. Keep these items securely away from curious noses:

- Chocolate and coffee products

- Xylitol -containing candies and baked goods (often marketed as “sugar free”)

- Grapes and raisins

- Onions and garlic

- Bones and fatty scraps

- Alcoholic beverages

Gift Wrap Precautions

During gift-wrapping sessions, keep ribbons, string, and wrapping paper away from pets. These items can cause similar problems to tinsel if ingested. Dispose of wrapping materials promptly in secured trash containers.

Creating Safe Spaces

During holiday gatherings, set up a quiet room or area where your pet can retreat when feeling overwhelmed. Include their bed, favorite toys, fresh water, and perhaps some soft music to help mask party noise.

Preparing for Emergencies

Having immediate access to veterinary care is crucial during the holiday season when emergencies can arise unexpectedly. During business hours, Chi Animal Hospital should be your first point of contact for veterinary care, available via call or text from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Our experienced team can provide immediate guidance and care for holiday-related pet emergencies.

For after-hours concerns, VetTriage can serve as your lifeline of defense. This veterinary telemedicine service can help you determine the severity of a situation and provide guidance on whether immediate emergency care is needed. Having both these resources readily available can make the difference in an emergency situation where every minute counts.

Further, remember to know where your closest 24 Hour Emergency Veterinarian is located and be sure to program their phone number into your phone. 

We strongly recommend creating a prominent display in your home with these essential emergency contacts:

Emergency Veterinary Contacts:

Chi Animal Hospital

💻 Download the app to communicate with us!

📱 Text us: 321-295-7387

📞 Call us: 321-574-7387

⏰ Hours: 9am-6pm

After Hours:

VetTriage - Your Lifeline of Defense

🔗 https://www.chi.hospital/after-hours-emergencies

Your local 24 Hour Emergency Veterinarian

Poison Control Resources:

When facing a potential poisoning emergency, every minute counts. Two reliable poison control services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide expert guidance:

Pet Poison Helpline

📞 855-764-7661

⏰ Available 24/7

💰 Please note: This service includes a consultation fee

ASPCA Animal Poison Control

📞 888-426-4435

⏰ Available 24/7

💰 Please note: This service includes a consultation fee

Before calling either poison control service, gather as much information as possible about what your pet may have ingested, including:

- The name of the product or substance

- Approximately how much was consumed

- How long ago the exposure occurred

- Your pet's weight and any existing medical conditions

- Any symptoms your pet is showing

Having this information ready will help the toxicology experts provide the most accurate and timely advice for your pet's situation. Keep in mind that while these services do charge a fee, the expert guidance they provide can be lifesaving and may help prevent costly emergency veterinary visits through early intervention and proper home care instructions when appropriate.

Consider creating a pet emergency kit that includes these contact numbers, along with basic first aid supplies and copies of your pet's current medical records and vaccination history. Share this information with any pet sitters or family members who might be caring for your pets during holiday gatherings or travel.

Preventive Measures for a Safe Holiday

Regular supervision is your best defense against holiday mishaps. Establish a routine of checking decorations for signs of tampering or damage. When you cannot directly supervise your pets, consider using baby gates to restrict access to decorated areas or keeping pets in a separate, pet-proofed room.

Conclusion

The holidays don't have to be a time of anxiety for pet owners. By understanding and preparing for potential hazards, you can create a festive environment that's safe for all family members. Remember that prevention is always easier—and less expensive—than treating an emergency. With proper planning and awareness, you can ensure your pets remain healthy and happy throughout the holiday season.

Remember to share these safety tips with visiting friends and family members who might not be aware of the risks certain holiday traditions pose to our pets. Additionally, we have posted other safety articles that may be of assistance regarding fireworks, cookouts, and leftovers. By working together, we can create a joyous and safe celebration for everyone in our homes, both two-legged and four-legged.