Are your Christmas decorations a danger to your dog or cat?

From toxic chocolate to unattended candles, the Christmas period presents all sorts of dangers to pets that we must be aware of, writes Flic Everett

‘Tis the season... of veterinary bills. As many pet owners know all too well, Christmas generally sees a dramatic increase in animals arriving at the surgery, stuffed with tinsel – or indeed, stuffing. Research from the PDSA has found that 10 per cent of pet owners have made an emergency vet dash over Christmas. The most common issue is “toxic ingestion”, with curious cats and delighted dogs snaffling chocolate, mince pies and onion gravy – all potentially lethal. Over the past five years, chocolate poisoning cases have rocketed by 50 per cent and more than a quarter of vets dealt with swallowed tinsel or undigested fairy lights. Yet all these disasters – and more – can be avoided. Here’s how to ensure a furry merry Christmas.

WHAT’S YOUR POISON?

Christmas is all about food – and dogs know it, while many cats are equally willing to pile into the butter, cheese and fruitcake. But chocolate, raisins and sultanas, onion and garlic, grapes, macadamia nuts and xylitol, a sugar substitute, can all be lethal.

“Our dog Hank ate a massive box of Green & Blacks chocolates and spent Christmas Eve on beta blockers,” says writer Hazel Davis, while journalist Kay Worboys recalls, “My sister-inlaw’s dog ate an entire Christmas pudding… the vet’s bill was around £400.”

“Christmas is peak season for ‘dietary indiscretion’,” says Sean McCormack, the head vet at tails.com. “Vets will administer an emetic to poisoned pets, and sometimes they have to be hospitalised and put on fluids – it’s quite expensive.” McCormack advises calling the vet first and keeping any packaging. “Chocolate is dose dependent – and higher quality is more likely to cause a problem.”

The best way to keep the problem from happening in the first place is to keep food in lockable Tupperware or the fridge.

GLOBE-AL DANGER

Toxicity is as dangerous as electricity at Christmas – and it’s not just foods that poison pets.

“The pretty patterns in snow globes can be irresistible, especially for cats, but make sure they can’t be knocked over,” says Lynne James, a vet with the PDSA. “Sometimes the fluid inside can contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol) which is highly toxic.” If your dog has eaten a battery, she adds, “they can cause a blockage, and if they are chewed, corrosive material can leak out and burn the mouth or guts. Contact your vet urgently if this happens.”

“My lab Bunty ate a triple-A battery,” says teacher Martha Wenger. “It was terrifying but as we were deciding whether to drive 30 miles to the emergency vet, it, er, emerged, intact. She was fine but I’ll never leave them lying about again.”

Be wary of festive plants and flowers too. “Poinsettias, holly, ivy and mistletoe are all toxic and should be kept well out of reach,” says James.

LIGHT WORK

Fairy lights are a potential hazard as pets can electrocute themselves, or find themselves with a mouthful of glass bulb, while candles can burn whiskers and tails.

“I shudder to remember the Christmas when our cat Jemima was washing herself near a festive candle,” says Louise Sykes, a software developer. “We suddenly smelled burning, and were looking all over for the source – then we noticed her tail was smouldering.”

“Lit candles should never be left unattended,” agrees James.

Be wary, too, of open fires and woodburners. Hot embers can spit at sleeping pets, or “your cat may have got used to jumping on top of the log burner when it was unlit”. It’s important to be vigilant and hang lights where they really can’t reach – not where you think they can’t.

INVASION OF THE BED SNATCHERS

If other pets come to visit, be aware that many animals are upset by other pets on “their” turf. Fights can break out and in severe cases of territorialism, animals – and people – can get hurt.

“Some dogs will enjoy having a canine friend to stay,” says McCormack, “But if not, get them used to each other on a walk first then go back to the house together, so it’s not a surprise. If there’s any tension, keeping them apart is a good idea.”

With children, he adds, “it only takes a moment for the dog to feel uncomfortable and nip. Signs of anxiety include excessive blinking, showing the whites of the eyes, licking the lips, ears back, cowering, looking up – he’s basically saying ‘please get this kid off me’.”

Stressed or territorial cats, adds James, “feel safest when they’re high up, so give them a cosy place to curl up on top of a secure shelf or cupboard.”

INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT…

You have your rules – but when pet-lovers visit, unsuitable scraps, treats and sneaky crisps are all too often funnelled into your dog’s grateful jaws. “Whenever my adult children come home, they ruin all my dog training,” says Craig Walker, a pharmacist. “They feed our terriers, Suzy and Sid, under the table and it makes me cross – they’re on special vet-approved diets and it’s bad for them.”

And no, it’s not just “a few harmless treats”, agrees McCormack. “Fatty treats can lead to pancreatitis, which is a very serious condition, or they can upset a pet’s digestive system.”

If you want to include your pet in the festive feasting, he recommends a bit of lean turkey with no extra gravy. “Over half of dogs now are overweight, so don’t add to that problem.”

Also don’t forget that cooked bones are potentially lethal, because they can splinter, he says. “And rawhide treats are problematic – it can crack into shards.”

“Encourage people to give your pet toys rather than food as presents,” says James. “Toys are also a great way to bond with your pet – and help keep them entertained over Christmas.”

‘We suddenly smelled burning… then we noticed the cat’s tail was smouldering’