There are only a few more days left until Christmas and although this is a wonderful time of the year it has many potential dangers for our pets, especially if owners are not aware of them.

Christmas food is definitely on top of our list! The festive season is usually filled with sweets, chocolates, mince pies, Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings. All these foods should be kept away from our furry companions since they contain many substances that are toxic for them.

Chocolate contains theobromine, which is poisonous for dogs and cats. Chocolate poisoning in dogs is very common during this time of the year and affected dogs will often present diarrhoea, vomiting, hyperactivity, incoordination, and even fits (seizures). The higher the cocoa content, the more toxic the chocolate will be for our pets.

Xylitol is a very common sweetening agent used as a sugar substitute in sugar-free chewing gum, sweets, cakes, biscuits and it is also commonly used in coffee or tea. Xylitol is dangerous because it causes a sudden drop in our pet’s blood sugar levels, eventually leading to liver damage.

Although neither the toxic agent nor the process involved are entirely known, there have been many cases of dogs that developed kidney failure after ingesting grapes, raisins and sultanas. Please keep all the mince pies, Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings away from them.

Other toxic foods include macadamia nuts, onions and garlic which means that owners shouldn’t feed anything to their pet that might contain any of these ingredients. Feeding our pets with our Christmas meal leftovers is also not recommended not only because those meals tend to have very high amounts of fat but also because it often contains bones. Bones are a choking hazard and can cause constipation or even damage on their intestines.

Christmas decorations can be dangerous as well as holly and mistletoe are also poisonous for pets if ingested. Curious and playful pets may try to chew and swallow ornaments, tree light cables tinsel and ribbons.

Merry Christmas everybody!
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Christmas is a fun and happy time of the year. It’s all about celebrating, eating delicious food, spending time with your loved ones and getting lovely gifts for family and friends. During this time of the year it is very common for people to either get a new pet or to give a pet as a gift.

This seems to be the perfect present for pet lovers and for children. The days off work during the festive season are also very handy to spend some time enjoying the recently acquired puppy or kitten. Since Christmas is right on our doorstep, this seems to be a very good time to remind all future pet owners that a pet brings a lot of joy but it is also a huge responsibility.

We could not be more supportive of families getting new pets but many of these are brought home on an impulse, which often does not end well for them. Every year, hundreds of pets are left at pounds, charities or even abandoned during the months following Christmas. Once people realise all it takes to have a pet in their household, that pet is often no longer welcome.

Being a pet owner means you are responsible for every aspect of that pet’s life and that means that getting a pet is a decision that requires careful consideration.

Please remember that:

If you are considering getting a new pet please think very carefully if you have the time and if you are willing to dedicate your time to this pet. Ask yourself if you have the space to provide an adequate environment and if you can afford the costs of feeding, keeping and providing health care for your pet.

There are far too many pets without a home living their lives in kennels and we, as a society, struggle to manage that situation every day. This Christmas please keep in mind that a pet is for life and not just for Christmas!
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