Gifts, holiday foods, and food preparation materials aren’t the only dangers your pets are likely to face during the holiday season.
The revolving door of house visitors and overnight guests is another concern.
Whether those guests are neighbors popping in or friends and family coming to stay from across the country, many will inadvertently bring with them toxins and other pet hazards that could ruin the holidays.
With a few simple adjustments to your festivities, you can welcome your friends and family with open arms without compromising your pet’s safety and well-being.
Pet Dangers Associated with Houseguests
Presents, Gifts, and Seasonal Flowers & Plants
Though many people are aware of the dangers associated with chocolate ingestion in pets, this is still one of the most commonly occurring pet poisonings, and this is particularly true around the holidays.
When giving or receiving chocolate as a gift, be careful not to leave it out where pets can get to it. Pets can get to more areas than you might think, and wrapping paper is no match for the dedicated teeth of a dog hot on the scent of such a forbidden treat.
Speaking about wrapping, curly ribbon and twine pose a risk of gastrointestinal linear foreign body obstruction to pets, especially cats. Either don’t use them in your wrapping, or make certain to dispose of them promptly once the gift is unwrapped.
Flowers and plants are commonly given to the hosts of the holiday meals. Whether you’re the one giving the flowers or the one receiving them, it’s important to know that many commonly given plants and flowers can cause problems for cats and dogs, and such poisonings can range in severity from mild digestive upset to organ failure.
Some examples of toxic plants include:
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Amaryllis – Toxic to dogs and cats and can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression, excessive drooling, lack of appetite (anorexia), tremors, and vomiting.
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Azalea – Toxic to dogs and cats and can cause cardiac failure, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness.
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Christmas/Easter Rose – Toxic to dogs and cats and can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression, and drooling.
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Lillies – Lilies are extremely toxic and dangerous to a cat's kidneys! SO, please be extra vigilant with lilies in a home with cats. They can also be toxic to dogs. Symptoms are dependent on the type of lily and can include gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea and vomiting), oral pain, drooling, and an irregular heart rate.
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Holly – Can cause diarrhea, depression, and vomiting.
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Mistletoe – Can cause gastrointestinal upset and, in rare cases, cardiovascular problems.
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Poinsettias – While it is an overrated toxicity, the milky sap in the leaves is mildly toxic. If ingested, it can cause irritation to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and sometimes cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Keep flowers and plants truly out of reach of your pets. And do your hosts a favor by giving them only pet-safe foliage.
The ASPCA has an excellent searchable online database (complete with pictures) that anyone can access when making such choices.
Coats and Purses
Coats and purses are dangerous to pets because of what's often inside them. Many people keep their chocolate, snacks (think toxic nuts and seeds and raisins, vaping devices and cigarettes, gum (including sugar-free xylitol gums and nicotine replacement gums), wrappers, medications, and other items in their coat pockets or bags.
A pet ingesting something from a guest’s bag or coat is a very common scenario on the line at the animal poison control and in veterinary emergency rooms during the holidays, or frankly, any time of year.
Hang all coats and bags safely in a closet or on a wall hook or coat rack to avoid such a pet emergency.
Doing so will not only prevent your pets from getting poisoned or suffering from an intestinal blockage from a foreign body, but it will also prevent them from destroying your guests' possessions. Win-win!
Luggage and Toiletries
From clothing and other items that can cause digestive tract obstruction to grooming products and medications that can cause poisoning, the suitcases and toiletry bags of overnight guests are often a pet hazard minefield.
An easy way to keep your pets safe from items your guests bring into your home is to request that all overnight visitors keep their room and bathroom doors closed and keep all bags off the floor.
Additionally, request that they take medications and supplements over a sink in case they drop something. Not everyone is aware of pet dangers, so sometimes you need to be very explicit in your instructions.
Stress and Upset of the ‘Routine’
You’re not the only one to get stressed out around the holidays; the annual influx of family and friends can also upset your pet’s routine. Cats and dogs are creatures of habit, and though some are more susceptible to the stress associated with change than others, all are likely affected to some degree.Stress in pets can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, inappropriate eliminations outside of litter boxes, decreased appetite, intense itchiness, urinary obstruction (particularly in male cats), hiding, running away, and a variety of other problems that can cause your cat (and you) a lot of grief.
Before the festivities, discuss with your veterinarian which calming aids may be beneficial for your pets. Some calming treat options include:
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VetriScience Calm & Confident Chews – available for dogs and for cats
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Under the Weather Per PB & Chill for dogs
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Probiotics (start cats and dogs about 4 weeks before festivities)
If your pet(s) suffer from significant stress and anxiety, your veterinarian may recommend prescription medications. In some cases, these need to be started well before the festivities to take effect. Read more about anxiety medications for dogs and those used for cats.
During any large gathering, it’s a good idea to provide your pets with a ‘safe area’ to spend the evening or escape to when the festivities begin. Doing so will not only prevent many of the gastrointestinal, poisoning, and other problems discussed earlier, but it will also keep them safe from any visiting young children and can help prevent their escape through an open door, too.
For cats who can jump baby gates, you can buy zipper screens that tack around the door. Some people install a temporary screen door. Even a piece of garden lattice cut larger than the door can work (not crisscross that your cat can climb).
To help with loud noises upsetting your pet, set up the space with noise-masking devices, like a white noise machine and/or calming music.
Be sure that you provide fresh water and some environmental enrichment, such as a stuffed Kong or other interactive toy, to keep your pets happy in this ‘safe area.’
Use care, though, with dogs who are toy/food protective, as you don’t want your environmental enrichment to lead to in-fighting amongst your pets!
For cats, don’t forget to provide them with a clean and easily accessible litter box, too. Interactive, self-play toys are great for cats, too.
Ideally, you should get your pets used to spending time in this safe area well in advance of the holidays.
May this awareness and pet safety advice help you and your pets have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday together. For more holiday tips, check out this article on mealtime hazards and pet-safe treats.
