We understand how exciting–and slightly stressful–the days leading to the Holidays can be. As you read this, your holiday preparations are probably in full swing already, from buying last-minute gifts to putting together your recipe for Christmas dinner. Before you get busy with the holidays, you don’t want to forget a precious family member who’s brought nothing but joy and excitement into your family: your pet.
At the Bayview Seven Animal Hospital in Richmond Hill we want your holidays to be as fun as they can be, so we took it upon ourselves to complete this list of holiday dangers for your pets–and how you can overcome them to enjoy a stress-free holiday season!
However, tempting, don’t let your pets overeat, or give them inappropriate food as treats:
As excited as we may be to try our new culinary masterpiece cooked to perfection, you better leave your pet out of it. You should keep your pet’s diet routine, and the last thing you should do is to feed them different kinds of food that they haven’t tried before. Even if everything you’ve prepared is pet-safe, you still run the risk of upsetting your pet’s tummy if you change their diet too much.There are also certain kinds of food that you should stay away from, and chocolates, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, and generous amounts of garlic or onion are at the top of the list.
Although the Holidays are a busy time, sticking to normal feeding and walking times, for instance, will help to keep pets calm and out of mischief:
Your pets may love having a few visitors every now and then, but the Veterinarians in Richmond Hill suggest too many of them at once can prove to be stressful for them. Pets generally live and get used to their everyday routine, and changing it up too much may stress them and cause them to react out of their usual character. The same goes for visiting pets, even if your pet has met them in the past. The solution isn’t to stop inviting friends and visiting pets over for the holidays altogether. Rather, you can 
make sure that your pet has a safe place, a familiar spot where they can retreat to and where they can isolate themselves from all your visitors. Crates or cat carriers left out year round with a favorite toy and blankie/bed often become safe havens for our fur babies when they have had enough and need some quiet time.
Cards, wrapping paper and ribbons can all cause real problems if eaten by pets. Keep present out of reach too:
We all know how curious our pet’s can get. And their first instinct when they get curious about something? They bite it! While it looks adorable whenever they bite on your pillows and leave paw marks all over your kitchen, it won’t look as cute when they ingest something that’s harmful to them. Candles, tinsels, ornaments, presents that might contain chocolates (they may be wrapped tightly, but your pet can sure smell them)–steer them clear of your beloved pet!
Falling trees and ‘decorations as snacks’ are amongst the top pet dangers at Christmas:
Your Christmas tree might look harmless enough, but it can pose a potential threat for your beloved pet. We’re talking about the water from your natural tree, which often breeds bacteria that can result in vomiting and diarrhea. And since we’re talking about the different hazards of the Christmas tree, beware poisonous plants: Unfortunately, many of the plants that appear at Christmas are toxic to pets – including Holly berries, mistletoe and poinsettias.
According to the Veterinarians in Richmond Hill, Christmas is one of the most dangerous times of the year for pets.
The top 5 reasons pets visited a vet on Christmas Day last year were:
1. Gastritis / Enteritis
2. Lacerations or bite wounds
3. Soft tissue trauma
4. Foreign body ingestion
So be ready. Check your Veterinarian in Richmond Hill’s Christmas opening hours and keep the telephone number by the phone just in case.
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Sincerely,
Julia Lohasz
Practice Manager
Bayview Seven Animal Hospital
“Your healthy companion is our pride & joy”
Bayview Seven Animal Hospital, a veterinary clinic located on Hwy.7, one block West of Yonge, serving all pets in Markham, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan and North York since 1988. We are your family vets for dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets and birds.
Disclaimer: No part of this website constitutes medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with their veterinarian.
