Top Tips For A Cautious Christmas With Pets

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — We're deep into the 2023 holiday season, as we gather to celebrate one another over food, drinks, games and other fun. There's more than one reason to be cautious — for example, if you've got pets.

Many potential hazards face our furry friends, and this time of the year can be very exciting yet at the same time very stressful not only for you, but for animals as well.

"At this time of year, we need to be additionally aware of our pets and the environment they are in," Ken Ross, chief of the Putnam County SPCA, told Patch. "The holidays can be distracting and it only takes one small slip up to cause your pet to get sick or worse, to die. They’re members of your family and you want them healthy as you celebrate the season with them."

Ross's top tip: think hard before you give a pet as a gift.

"The cute little puppy or kitten may seem to be the best gift," he said.

but before considering a pet as a gift, one needs to take into account the responsibility of owning one. A dog needs to be trained to go to the bathroom outside – "yes, even when it’s cold, raining, snowing and when the owner is tired," Ross said. "It’s another living being that needs constant care as well -food, water, warmth, and veterinary trips (which can be costly)."

Plus, he added, a pet doesn’t stay small forever. It grows and becomes a dog or cat, and with that, so do its needs.

"They require constant care and attention, and they don’t come with an on/off switch where they can be put away until you are ready to take care of them again. Also, this time of year, shelters are full, so trying to find a new home will be difficult if you no longer want or can care for the pet. Take time and understand the commitment before thinking of giving a pet as a gift!"

Here are eight more tips recommended by Ross:

1. It is important to watch that pets aren’t getting into unusual or unsafe foods during the holidays. Be clear with visitors and guests to avoid feeding table scraps, especially bones, and sweets that could contain xylitol, raisins or chocolate, which can be hazardous
2. Adding many new treats to your pet’s diet may cause GI upset. It may be best to stick to items you know they like and tolerate well as presents
3. Eating ornaments, tinsel, ribbons or parts of evergreens can be hazardous and create blockages or severe damage to the intestinal tract
4. Chemicals added to Christmas tree water can be dangerous to drink
5. Candles should not be left unattended with pets
6. Firestarter logs have harmful chemicals that can cause problems if eaten
7. Some holiday plants can be poisonous as well — ivy, holly, mistletoe and poinsettia for example
8. If you're having visitors, and doors opening and closing a lot, make sure pets that are prone to sneak outside have tags or a microchip in case they get out and get lost.

Lastly, Ross has a tip that's important even when Christmas is over: "All dogs left outside must have appropriate dog houses – waterproof, insulated and large enough for the dog. And when the dog’s water turns to ice, the dog needs to come inside as all dogs must have access to water (in its liquid form). The best rule of thumb is when it’s too cold for you to be outside, it’s too cold for your dog!"