As Christmas is fast approaching, it is best to be aware of some common potential hazards that your pet can encounter over the festive season. Cats are notorious for consuming tinsel and ribbon, which can become stuck in the intestine and cause it to bunch up like an accordion. This condition is painful and requires surgery to correct it.
Never give your cat or dog tinsel to play with. Cats and dogs also see shiny baubles as potential playthings; however, these can be knocked off a tree and can smash on the floor causing a danger for pets.
Some cats are fond of eating houseplants, but remember that several festive plants are poisonous, including holly, mistletoe and poinsettia. Always keep these well out of reach of mischievous cats.
The majority of Christmas-related cases that vets see are food-related. The leading problem is chocolate toxicity. Chocolate is toxic to almost all animals. A lethal dose for a medium sized dog is about 10 squares of dark chocolate if your pet ingests chocolate, phone the vet for advice.
Onions, garlic, grapes and currants are also toxic to animals as they contain compounds that can destroy red blood cells, so avoid these at all costs and ensure to keep your pet away from those delicious mince pies.
Giving your pet his or her ‘Christmas dinner’ can also cause problems – our pets are not used to eating rich, high fat foods, so they can suffer from indigestion and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Overall, prevention is better than cure. As long as you are aware of the hazards, you can prevent them and ensure you and your pet have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas from all at Bath Vets.