Christmas festivities intensify the risk of a pet taking a bite of something they shouldn’t.

Lecturer in Veterinary Practice in the Charles Sturt University School of Agriculture, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences Dr Alex MacLennan explains how to keep your furry friend safe this festive season.

Foods to avoid

Grazing throughout the day is a Christmas staple in most households, but it’s hard to keep a constant eye on the table with prying paws around.

Grapes, sultanas and raisins are not safe for dogs to consume. These are often found in high quantities in Christmas cakes, puddings and fruit mince pies.

Chocolate is a more well-known food to avoid giving to pets, but many don’t know macadamia nuts are also on the ‘no’ list.

A sneakier danger to pets is a type of artificial sweetener called Xylitol. This can be found in sugar-free lollies, toothpaste and chewing gum, so it’s best for your pet to avoid these sweet treats.  

Onion and garlic should never be fed to your pets, and fatty foods such as sausages and off cuts should also be avoided.

Food items such as corn cobs and cooked bones, while not necessarily toxic to a pet, can cause a life-threatening intestinal obstruction, or in the case of a bone splintering, intestinal perforation.

Non-food items to avoid

Just as we see warnings for children not to consume batteries, the same danger is present for our pets.

As families fire up the barbecue, wooden skewers can also post a great risk if swallowed, or for keen fishers, tackle and hooks should be kept in a safe, secure place out of your pet’s reach.

For cats in particular, any flowers given as an innocent gift should be carefully scanned for lilies. This beautiful flower is highly toxic to cats, especially the pollen dust which can fall around the area where the flowers are displayed or carried.

And it wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree in the living room. For people, it’s a place to store presents beneath and enjoy the festive decorations, but for cats, it could be seen as a fun new toy to climb, bite, jump on and attack.

This could be harmless, but in certain cases your cat could chew through light cables, ingest decorations and tinsel or even cause the tree to topple over leading to serious injury.

Risk reduction strategies

The good news is there are simple ways to reduce the risk of your pets eating something they shouldn’t.

Keep larger dogs outside or in a separate part of the home to where food is kept, as they can steal food off tables and benches. Any breed should be watched around children, who become easier targets to steal food from, and keep pets away from rubbish bins where scraps are thrown.

Don’t deliberately feed your pet any of the items listed above, even those fatty offcuts they drool over.

Never leave the barbecue unattended, as this could not only leave food open to being taken, but also lead to severe burns.

Christmas trees should also be pet-proofed in a separate room or with a barrier such as a baby gate, and all loose or risky items should be put out of reach.

What to do if your pet gets up to mischief

If your dog or cat has eaten something it shouldn’t, call your veterinarian straight away for advice. Do not wait until they become unwell.

There is also the Animal Poisons Hotline that can provide advice during business hours if you suspect they have consumed something toxic.

Keeping cool through the holidays

It’s not just foods which pose a threat to our pets. Heat stress and heat stroke are a major concern during the summer months.

As the mercury climbs as high as 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country, it’s important to keep yourself and your pets cool.

There are a few simple ways to do so:

• Only take your dogs for walks early in the morning
• Keep pets inside in the cool during the day
• Outside dogs must have shade and a cool surface to lie on
• Always have cold, fresh water available
• Never leave a dog in the car
• Make sure dogs have shade when on the back of the ute
• Test any surfaces, such as bitumen or concrete, with your hand first

Certain dogs are more susceptible to heat-related health concerns, including flat faced breeds (brachycephalics) such as bull dogs, pugs and boxers, overweight pets, older pets and those with dark, dense coats.

Rabbits and guinea pigs are susceptible to heat stress and heat stroke, so may need to be brought inside during the hottest part of the day.

The signs of heat stroke to look out for in dogs include excessive panting, restlessness, vomiting and diarrhoea, disorientation, collapsing and seizures.

If your pet is experiencing any of these signs, contact a veterinarian immediately.

ENDS