At Christmas-time many households stock up on extra treats and drinks to help them celebrate the festive season, but it’s important pet owners are aware that many of these can be toxic and potentially fatal for our pets, says veterinary surgeon Nicholas Burrell.
Christmas hazards pet owners should watch for
Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the biggest hazards pets can face at Christmas and vets see more cases of dangerous chocolate poisoning cases in the run up to Christmas than at any other time of year. Chocolate should not be fed to pets because it contains a substance called theobromine that dogs cannot break down.
Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks and food containing alcohol have similar side effects to humans and can cause serious liver damage.
Cooked bones
Turkey, chicken, lamb, beef and pork bones that have been cooked splinter easily and can perforate your dog’s stomach. They are dangerous and should never be fed to a dogs.
Holly berries
Holly berries can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive salivation (drooling) and weakness in dogs.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe causes stomach problems and may cause skin irritations.
Poinsettia
These popular Christmas plants are toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, excessive salivation (drooling), loss of appetite, lethargy and depression.
Sugar-free sweets and mints
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in sugar-free mints and sweets but can cause vomiting, drowsiness, collapse and fits in dogs.
Aspirin, paracetamol and Ibuprofen
Boxing Day hangover cures could be fatal if swallowed by your pet.
Antifreeze
Make sure your cat doesn’t mop up any spills of antifreeze if there’s snow and ice. They like the sweet taste, but it is highly toxic and most often fatal without immediate treatment.
Batteries
Batteries left on the floor or in toys that an unsupervised dog may chew can cause serious harm.
Tinsel
Cats may enjoy chasing tinsel or decorations that contain wires, but swallowing them can lead to obstructions in the bowel.
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Nicholas Burrell BVetMed MRCVS is clinical director of Abbey Veterinary Group in Derbyshire. His main interests are dentistry and ultrasound and he carries out the majority of scans at the practice. Nick owns four rescue cats and a pony.