Safe celebrating for our furry friends

We’ve got a few suggestions to pass on from the veterinary team with the Dog Aging Project about celebrating safely this holiday season. Read on for more…

Poinsettias, Christmas cactus, and holly are beautiful additions to holiday decor, but we recommend keeping these plants out of reach of dogs and cats. If ingested, they have the potential to cause vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, there are reports of Christmas cactus and holly consumption causing a loss of appetite, and poinsettias could cause ataxia (poor muscle control) in cats.

Dogs and cats should also be kept from drinking Christmas tree water treated with preservatives. It is common for Christmas tree preservatives to contain fertilizer and dextrose, which can cause mild vomiting and diarrhea.

For our four-legged family members that have stayed off Santa’s naughty list, gifts for those good boys and girls are a fun way to include them in holiday festivities! But please remember to keep ribbons, string, and other ingestible material out of their reach. Items like these can get stuck in our pets’ intestines.

Finally, chocolate, alcohol, uncooked poultry, and bread dough are also on the “Not Safe for Pets” list. If you suspect your companion may have consumed any dangerous items, please get in touch with your veterinarian immediately!

Courtsey of Dog Aging Project