Skip to content

Pet tips for the holidays

SPCA offers tips to keep pets safe during holidays
The SPCA offers several tips for keeping your pets safe this holiday season.

At this time of year, there are plenty of festive decorations and seasonal treats in thousands of B.C. homes, yet the holidays can be hazardous for pets.

“We want all family members, two-legged and four-legged, to enjoy a safe, happy and healthy holiday season,” says Lorie Chortyk, BC SPCA general manager of community relations.

She offers the following tips to help pet guardians ensure their furry companions’ continued health and well-being:

– Bones are bad: Avoid giving bones to your dogs or cats – particularly turkey bones. Poultry bones easily splinter and can cause serious injury, while bone fragments can cause intestinal blockages or lacerations.

– Thoughtful treats: Chocolate and other sweets should not be given to animals. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that can be deadly to cats and dogs, though not harmful to humans. The best thing you can do for your pet over the holidays is to keep them on their regular diet.

– Poisonous plants: Many popular holiday plants are poisonous to animals, including mistletoe, holly, ornamental pepper and Christmas rose. Remember to keep these plants out of reach of pets – especially birds. Poinsettias are not poisonous to pets or people, although some pets may have a sensitivity to the latex contained in the plant and may get diarrhea or vomit.

– Tinsel is trouble: Having a Christmas tree and pets can be troublesome. Ensure the tree is well-secured and try to place the decorations above paw height. Avoid using tinsel or angel hair – cats and dogs will ingest both, which can cause intestinal problems. If you add chemicals to the water reservoir of your Christmas tree to help it last longer, keep in mind those chemicals are toxic to animals, and keep the reservoir covered.

– Toy watch: Avoid purchasing pet toys with small or soft pieces that can be chewed and swallowed. Nylon bones tend to splinter less than plastic ones. Be sure to inspect pet toys regularly and discard deteriorating ones.