Christmas hazards for pets

Domestic animals like cats and dogs are notoriously curious.

Our furry family members can misbehave at the best of times.

Add to this the excitement of all the humans home at once for Christmas and a plethora of fascinating bits that appear to be treats, and there could quite possibly be a disaster. Not just in the sense of the Christmas tree falling over but of the medical kind.

Listed below is a selection of potential pet hazards involved in the festive hullabaloo.

Chocolate

If you don’t know already that chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs, then you are not a very attentive pet owner. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance which is a stimulant a little like caffeine. Delicious it may be but for pets, consuming it can be fatal. Do not leave chocolate in places it can be reached by pets. If you have an inkling that there’s chocolate under the tree, it may well be worth locking the dog out of the lounge at night.

Fairylights

Parents of naughty cats already know the saga too well of getting the lights to stay on the tree. But if your pet already has the tendency to chew things around the house, the lights may get the same treatment. This can result in burns and even electrocution.

Alcohol

A few beers deep yourself, it might look funny to some to let the dog have some beer too, but this is a terrible idea. Alcohol of any kind, from as little as a teaspoon, can result in severe, lasting brain and liver damage for dogs and cats.

Candles

If Fluffy has a tendency to investigate, she may well poke her paw or nose into a lit candle. Don’t leave unsupervised candles in rooms or ditch them for the LED variety if you have an insatiable kitty-cat.

Tinsel

It’s shiny and oh-so-fun to look at but tinsel, when consumed, can cause serious blockages in a pet’s stomach.

Macadamia nuts

Often found in Christmas treats like cookies, cakes and desserts, macadamia nuts are yet another no-no for dogs.

Alliums

All of the Allium species, like garlic, chives and onion, can make dogs very sick. Unfortunately that means no stuffing or gravy for Fido.

Lilies

Lilium regale or Christmas lilies are fatally toxic to cats. This includes the pollen, petals, leaves, or water that the lilies have sat in.