The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about a potentially poisoned pet. Below is a list of holiday-related decorations, plants and food items that the veterinary toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline® recommend keeping away from pets.
Holiday Ornaments
When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as snow globes or bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia, irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.
If you own a cat, forgo the tinsel. What looks like a shiny toy to your cat can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk, unless made with zinc, but can cause severe damage to a cat’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, cats run the risk of severe injury to, or rupture of, their intestines that is life-threatening. Treatment typically involves costly abdominal surgery.
Plants
Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants are only mildly toxic. Far more worrisome are holiday bouquets containing lilies, holly or mistletoe. ”Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, Easter, roselily, and day lilies, are the most dangerous plants for cats,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, Director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline®. “The ingestion of a small amount of leaves, pollen, or small amounts of flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.” Other yuletide plants such as holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets and can cause gastrointestinal upset and even heart arrhythmias if ingested.
Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast, should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol poisoning, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.
Holiday Foods
With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and dangerous in some cases) to share these treats with your pets. Keep your pet on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak in treats. Foods that can present problems:
- Foods containing grapes, raisins and currants (such as fruitcakes and salads) can result in kidney failure in dogs.
- Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a compound highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.
- Many low sugar or sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure depending on the amount ingested.
- Leftover fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Imported Snow Globes
Certain snow globes have been found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol.)Small amounts of concentrated antifreeze can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital. Fortunately, the concentration in snow globes is generally quite low, but should be considered if a pet has access to the area of a broken snow globe.
Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting—but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs aren’t as sensitive, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry—so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.
Hand Warmers
As the temperature drops, sticking hand warmers in your gloves or shoes can provide comfort. But have you ever thought about how they work? Hand warmers contain elemental iron that reacts with oxygen in the air to produce heat. If your pet ingests any of the contents of a hand warmer, significant gastrointestinal distress and potential organ damage occurs. If a whole hand warmer was ingested, they may also become obstructed, which is an emergency that requires surgery.
Proper storage and disposal of hand warmers can save pet owners and pets from a lot of suffering. If you suspect your pet ingested any part of a hand warmer, used or unused, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® immediately for treatment advice.
When it comes to the holidays, familiarizing yourself with potential pet toxins and pet-proofing your home can help keep your pet safe. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® at 855-764-7661 with any questions or concerns.
