Christmas is a time for joy, love, and togetherness, and what better way to celebrate than with our beloved furry family? As pet guardians, we can make this holiday season extra special for our pets by including them in the festivities. From cute gifts to delicious treats, we love to spoil our pets, but here are some things to be aware of to ensure a merry Christmas for everyone in your home –Â
- Chocolate: As much as we love to indulge in chocolate, and no matter how much you get the puppy dog eyes when you’re eating it, chocolate is a big no-no for pets. Chocolate is equally bad for cats as it is for dogs. It contains small amounts of caffeine and larger amounts of theobromine. This combination makes chocolate a delicious treat for us humans but dangerous for our pets. Rather stock up on some yummy pet-appropriate treats for the holidays to ensure everyone has a happy festive season.
- Cooked bones: Once cooked, bones can split into smaller pieces and there is a danger that your dog could choke on them. Smaller pieces of bone can cause damage internally to the mouth, throat, or intestines. Likewise, for cats, it’s not worth taking a chance by giving them that cooked chicken bone no matter how fluffy looks at it adoringly. Rather keep the cooked bones away from your pets, enjoy the holidays peacefully, and not have any emergency trips to the vet.
- Artificial sweeteners: before giving any human foods to your pets please check the ingredients. Sweeteners such as Xylitol can be toxic to animals and can be found in peanut butter or other supposedly innocuous foods. Even a small amount of Xylitol can cause liver failure, seizures, and even death in dogs.
- Festive foods: the foods we love most during the festive season can have serious consequences for our pets. We often think there is no harm in giving our dog a treat during this time from our plate, but foods such as nuts, raisins, currents, and grapes can be toxic to them. These foods can cause server stomach upset and in some serious cases even kidney failure. Even too much of any rich food that your pet does not normally eat can cause problems. Keep your pets healthy and happy this holiday by keeping as much to their normal diet with the odd treat for just being so awesome.
This Christmas, let’s make our pets feel loved and included in the festivities. Be aware and remember to prioritize their safety and well-being throughout the holiday season. Together, let’s celebrate a truly pawsome Christmas with our furry friends.