The Best Holiday Gift for Pets: Keep Your Dogs & Cats Safe from Accidental Poisoning (part 1)

We’re all for keeping holiday spirits high with fancy decor and bow-topped presents galore, but the best gift you can offer your pets this season is to steer them clear of unhealthy foods, dangerous decorations and holiday plants that can be toxic.

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Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’S Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and author of Vet Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Protecting Your Pet’s Health reports, “Over the holidays, veterinary hospitals often see an influx of pets affected by a variety of seasonal hazards, from cats vomiting after swallowing ribbons to dogs who’ve indulged in pilfered chocolates. It’s important to keep our animal companions safe when celebrating.”

The following tips will help keep everyone—furry and two-legged—in good cheer:

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water, which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset,  from spilling. Remember to turn off all electric menorahs at night and before you leave your house. Cats and dogs can knock them over leaving you vulnerable to a terrible house fire.

Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

Watch the turkey and chicken bones as they cause splintering and can do serious damage going down and passing trough. Watch the chocolate, which is very dangerous to dogs and cats, especially while baking. The darker the chocolate, the more poisonous.  It’s always a good idea to limit feeding your pets left overs, as tempting as it may be. An upset stomach can lead to a blue holiday for our furry friends. Any change in diet always needs to be watched closely.

For more holiday safety tips go to the ASPCA’s website.

Most of all, have lots of fun and give lots of love to your animals over the holiday season. For special holiday gifts, check out our Chanukah dog toys HERE, our Christmas dog toys HERE. Check out our Holiday catnip cat toys HERE.  We carry Jax & Bones rope dog toys, YEOWWW! Catnip Cat Toys, Planet Dog chew toys, Chewish plush dog toys, and many many more. Bring in holiday cheer with an adorable stocking stuffer of Chanukah gift at TheVelvetSnoot.com.