Helpful Christmas Safety Tips For Pawrents
Christmas is upon us! And we’re sure everyone’s homes are adorned with a Christmas tree filled with ornaments, pretty fairy lights, and perfectly wrapped presents under the tree. Sure, they bring in the festive cheer and make our homes pretty, but if you have pets at home, they can pose a real threat!
While the holidays are fun for us humans, they can present a lot of dangers to our furry family members. Don’t let your Christmas get interrupted by a trip to the emergency vet! So let’s make sure that proper precautions have been made to keep your furkids away from trouble this festive season.
Pet Proof Your Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree - the main epicentre and centrepiece of the whole Christmas decor shazam. With a new foreign object in the house, curious canines and felines will want to explore the tree that appeared in the living room. Dogs and cats are known for trying to jump onto - and even into - the tree, which can easily cause it to fall and crash to the floor!
To avoid this, make sure you anchor the tree securely to avoid a dangerous tree-tipping disaster. Check your tree stand daily to confirm that the eye bolts are still locking the tree in place. You can also anchor the tree to your ceiling with a ceiling hook and fishing line for added security.
Additionally, you can create a barrier using a plastic pen or baby gate so pets can’t access the tree.
Beware of the Christmas Tree Water
For those who have live pine trees, spruces and firs inside the house for Christmas, do take caution of the water reservoir inside of the tree stand! As the tree drinks water, it can release sometimes-toxic sap into the stand that smells tasty to pets.
Many fresh trees are also preserved with pesticides and fertilizer water additives, including aspirin. Aspirin can be fatal for cats because they lack a necessary protein in their livers to break down the drug.
Pawrents should make it inaccessible to your pets by blocking access to the tree stand by covering it with aluminium foil and a well-wrapped tree skirt.
Christmas Lights Hazard
The Christmas lights and baubles adorned on your trees sure do look pretty however if they’re not kept properly, they can pose a real threat to your fur kids!
Make sure you fasten your holiday lights to your tree securely and place the cords somewhere that is out of reach from your curious pet’s mouth! A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.
Toxic Plants
Popular decorative plants like holly, mistletoe, and the poinsettia can be poisonous if ingested.
Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.
We recommend going for artificial plants that are made from silk or plastic. If not, do make sure these plants are out of paw's reach.
Keep the Candy and Gifts For Yourself
These belong to you and not your pets! Make sure your Chrismtas stockings really are hung somewhere your pets can’t reach this holiday season; children’s toys, gift wrap, and candy should be kept out of reach at all times.
Candy and chocolate bowls shouldn’t be placed openly on the counter tops or tables. You can place them in jars that are sealed so that those curious noses and paws can’t get into them. They can be highly toxic if consumed! If you believe your pet may have eaten something he or she shouldn’t have, contact your veterinarian immediately.
As you have read, there are definitely a lot of unexpected ways that our furry friends can get into trouble during the holidays, but being aware of the dangers and planning in advance can make a huge difference and even save lives. It only takes a moment to protect your pet.
Tags: Tips
