Nothing ruins a holiday more than a trip to the emergency vet. Although the most wonderful time of the year is full of joy and celebration, many timeless traditions pose major hazards to our furry friends. Most of these dangers are easily preventable, so it's important to stay cautious during the holiday season. Reach out to us at Eastshore Vet, your Madison veterinary care provider, and read these tips on how to keep your home safe for your pets during the holidays.
- Choose fake plants over real ones when making decisions on your holiday d??cor. Many popular holiday plants mistletoe, holly, lilies, and poinsettias can all cause serious illness in cats and dogs. Avoid stringing real, edible garlands on your Christmas trees as well. Those tantalizing holiday scents will lure curious pets and those decorations will be the cause of an upset stomach rather than festive cheer.
- Make sure your Christmas tree is secure. Pets close to the tree may accidentally knock it down and get crushed when it falls. If you're using a real tree, make sure to change out the water on a regular basis so it doesn't get dirty. Animals who drink stagnant water may become ill.
- Watch out for broken ornaments around the tree and other fragile holiday d??cor. Pets may injure themselves stepping on the fragments, or try to ingest them. Some ornaments have toxic ingredients and may cause intestinal damage.
- Keep burning candles far out of reach. Wagging tails and curious paws may send hot wax and a flame flying across the room. Someone could get burnt, or a fire could start. Opt for electric candles for the same warm, cheery feeling without the fire hazard.
- During the holidays, there are lots of exposed wires and the potential for electrocution is high. Make sure to keep all wires covered and any extra batteries far out of your pet's reach.
- Take extra precautions during New Years Eve. Firecrackers, loud music, and fireworks are all very loud and some pets try to escape the area when there are loud sounds. Keep your pets in an escape-proof area during the loud times of the night.
- Prevent your pet from receiving burns by keeping all electric cords out of chewing reach. Unplug decorations when you're not around to ensure they don't make any mischief while you're gone.
- Avoid giving your pets excessive amounts of holiday treats. Instead, treat them to extra quality time by going on longer walks together, visiting the park, extra playtime, or cozy evenings curled up by the fire. Your pet will appreciate the quality time, and so will you!
Sometimes, accidents are unavoidable. Reach out to us at Eastshore Vet, Madison veterinary clinic, for information on what to do in the event of an emergency during the holidays. Overall, most accidents are totally preventable if you take some basic precautions. Keeping things safe around your home will create even more holiday joy when you get to experience the season with your happy, healthy pets.