"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring " Aside from the family pet, that is, eating the cookies left out to cool.
It's an all-too-familiar scenario: with holiday stress, vacations and an abundance of temptingly tasty treats, the opportunity is ripe for four-legged family members to get ahold of something they shouldn't. While a stolen cookie will cause only minimal damage to your pet, or none at all, some holiday treats can result in serious harm and a trip to the emergency vet.
So what's the best way to protect your furry friends this season amid holiday stress and busy schedules? Essentially, pet-proofing a home for the holidays is very similar baby-proofing, advises Animal Care Center of Ooltewah veterinarian Dr. John Mullins.
"Always think ahead," he says. "Most people know what their pets get upset by or what they will get into, so if you know something like that, just don't put them in that situation."
Here are some of the most common toxic items to watch out for:
- Alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, often left in cups
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Holiday plants, such as Christmas tree water, poinsettias, lilies, holly, mistletoe, amaryllis and daffodils
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions
- Potpourri
- Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in everything from sugarless candy to peanut butter
- Yeast for bread-baking
In fact, he says, two of the most toxic items, garlic and onions, can cause a severe form of anemia called Heinz body anemia, which can be fatal if left untreated.
"It includes all items in that food category leaks and shallots too," he says. "Definitely keep animals away from that; it can cause serious blood changes."
Aside from toxicity issues, overly fatty foods can also cause complications. In particular, the trimmings from holiday turkey and ham can cause pancreatitis, Mullins says.
"We see a lot of that this time of year," he says. "A good rule of thumb is, if it's not good for you and you wouldn't eat it yourself, definitely don't feed it to your pet."
Rather than succombing to your pooch's adorable begging face and slipping him or her the table scraps they're hoping for, change your pet's meal times to coincide with holiday party eating schedules, so they still get food, but only their own food, Mullins suggests.
And by all means, go to bed with visions of sugar-plums dancing in your head. Just don't let your pets eat any.