Holiday Safety for Dogs and Cats: Food, Plants, Decorations and Guests

The holidays are wonderful and a little chaotic, for pets as much as for people. Emergency vets tend to see the same problems every season: dogs who raided the cookie tin, cats who ate tinsel, and pets stressed by a house full of guests. Most of it is preventable with a bit of planning.

Here’s a room-by-room guide to keeping your dog and cat safe.

In the kitchen and at the table

Holiday food is richer and more tempting than usual, and there’s more of it sitting around. These are the biggest risks:

Practical tips:

• Ask guests not to feed pets from the table, and say it out loud. Most people mean well.
• Clear plates and leftovers promptly and use a bin with a secure lid. Carcasses and bones in the trash are a classic emergency.
• Keep pets out of the kitchen while you cook, with a baby gate or a closed door.
• Never leave food gifts under the tree. Dogs will sniff out wrapped chocolate.

If you want to include your pet in the feast, a few bites of plain, boneless, skinless turkey or plain cooked vegetables is plenty.

Plants and flowers

• Lilies are an emergency for cats. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) can cause kidney failure in cats. Every part is toxic, including the pollen and the water in the vase. Keep them out of homes with cats entirely, and ask florists to leave them out of bouquets.
• Holly and mistletoe can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and mistletoe can cause more serious problems if a lot is eaten. Keep them well out of reach.
• Amaryllis bulbs can cause vomiting and drooling.
• Poinsettias are much less dangerous than their reputation suggests, but chewing can still cause drooling and an upset stomach.

The tree and decorations

• Secure the tree. Anchor it to a wall or ceiling hook so a climbing cat or excited dog can’t pull it over.
• Cover the tree water. It can contain fertilizers, preservatives and bacteria. Pine needles can also irritate the stomach if eaten.
• Skip tinsel in cat homes. Tinsel, ribbon and string can cause serious intestinal blockages if swallowed.
• Hang breakable and edible ornaments high. Glass can cut paws and mouths, and homemade salt dough ornaments can cause salt poisoning.
• Manage cords and lights. Tuck wires behind furniture or into cord covers, and unplug lights when you’re out. Chewing live wires can cause burns.
• Watch the candles. Never leave a lit candle unattended where a tail can swish or a cat can jump. Liquid potpourri can burn a cat’s mouth and skin.
• Store batteries safely. Button and coin batteries in toys and gadgets can cause severe burns if swallowed.
• Check snow globes. Some older or imported ones contain antifreeze, which is highly toxic.

Guests, noise and routine

A busy house can overwhelm even confident pets.

• Set up a quiet room with a bed, water, a litter box for cats and a long-lasting chew or puzzle for dogs. Let pets retreat whenever they want, and ask guests, especially children, to leave them be there.
• Watch the front door. Comings and goings are prime time for escapes. Check that ID tags and microchip details are current before the season starts.
• Keep routines steady. Feed, walk and play at the usual times as much as possible.
• Plan for fireworks. If your pet is noise-sensitive, walk dogs before dark, close curtains, play background music, and talk to your vet well ahead of time about whether anti-anxiety medication could help.
• Medications and handbags. Ask overnight guests to keep medicines, gum and snacks zipped away and off the floor.

Winter hazards

• Antifreeze tastes sweet and is extremely toxic, even in small amounts. Clean up spills immediately and store containers securely.
• De-icing salt can irritate paws and upset stomachs if licked. Wipe your dog’s paws after walks on treated sidewalks.
• Cold weather. Short-coated, small and senior dogs may need a coat, and outdoor cats need a warm shelter. Knock on the car hood before starting the engine on cold mornings, as cats sometimes shelter there.

Have an emergency plan

Before the holidays start:

• Save your regular vet’s number and holiday hours, plus your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic.
• Save the number for an animal poison control service, such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre or Pet Poison Helpline (a fee may apply).
• Know your pet’s approximate weight.

When to call the vet

Call immediately if your pet eats anything toxic from the lists above, even if they seem fine, since signs can be delayed. Don’t induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.

Also seek prompt care for repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, a painful or swollen belly, straining to poop, weakness or wobbliness, tremors or seizures, or a cat who stops eating or isn’t using the litter box. Any suspected lily exposure in a cat is an emergency.