Holiday Hazards For Pets
When the holiday season sets in, there will be a lot going on in your household. From the decorations put up to the toys that are played with, there are many dangers to dogs and other pets that are lurking in your home.
Holiday Plants
Holiday plants are a fun way to decorate and may your home more cozy and cheerful. However, there are a lot of these plants that are poisonous to pets. Some of these plants are holly, juniper, ivy, mistletoe, lilies, chrysanthemums and poinsettias. If your pet eats these plants, it can result in painful irritation of the mouth and stomach, and this can cause vomiting.
Electrical Wires
All of those holiday lights have to be powered by something, and that means plenty of electrical wires. It’s important to keep these away from areas where your pets may be during the holidays. Chewing on one of these wires can cause burns to the mouth as well as being shocked. Using wire covers can help you to keep these wires away from pets.
Tinsel and Ribbons
It can be tempting to use ribbons and tinsel in your decorating to add some glitter and sparkle, but many of these can be eaten by pets, and it can lead to serious problems. If your pet eats one of these items, they can cause their intestines to be blocked, and this requires emergency surgery. When you have pets who just might take a liking to tinsel and ribbons, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Batteries
Batteries can be extremely dangerous to pets. They can be tempting for a pet to chew on, but chewing can cause them to lose teeth. The zinc in batteries can also cause your pet to develop pancreatitis. If your holiday includes toys with batteries, make sure not to leave any out and to close all battery covers.
Holiday Ornaments
Seeing ornaments on the tree or other decor can attract pets to find out what those items smell and taste like. Glass ornaments should be kept out of the reach of pets and placed higher up on the tree. Any ornaments that may be accessible to your pet should be wood or soft plastic so that your pet isn’t harmed if they decide to chew on one or bat one around.
To keep your dog under better control, we offer different levels of dog obedience training at our German Dog Training Center.