Christmas!!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful time full of food, sharing presents and
surrounded by those you care about. It’s easy to get carried away with the happy festivities, so have a
think earlier on about how to keep your pet out of trouble. Please spare a moment to read this leaflet
and you might become aware of things you hadn’t thought of before. I’ll get right to the point so I don’t
bore you and so you’re less likely to throw the leaflet away!
Toxic Foods:
Chocolate – Contains Theobromine which cats and dogs are sensitive to, causing neurological signs and
even fatality.
Onions - All close members of the onion family (shallots, onions, garlic, scallions, etc.) contain
compounds that can damage dogs’ red blood cells if ingested in sufficient quantities.
Nuts – Certain types of nuts can cause toxic poisoning to your dog, upset the stomach or even cause an
obstruction in the digestive tract.
Fruit cakes, puddings and mince pies – Grapes and raisins can result in kidney damage and failure.
Clinical signs make take up to 3 or 4 days to display.
Turkey bones! Not toxic but they can cause choking, constipation and internal damage if the bones
splinter when the animal eats!
Christmas trees – (Oh yes) If Christmas trees are
chewed they can cause mild gut upset, vomiting and
diarrhoea. Pine needles can get stuck in paws and
cause irritation and they can potentially cause irritation
or perforation of the intestines!
Hazards
As lovely as we think they are, decorations are also
very tempting to cats and dogs!
Baubles can splinter or smash, shards can cut feet,
splinter in paws, get stuck if eaten and even perforate
the internal organs.
Tinsel is another one. If it is eaten it can bunch up and cause an obstruction in the digestive tract. This is
obviously very serious and would require surgery, which nobody wants.
A few more obvious ones now:
Wires – Pretty common sense to us but some pets feel the need to have a good chew.
Presents – Wrapping isn’t healthy for pets, but be aware of the contents. If it contains food (like that
chocolate for Auntie Helen) your dog will already know about it! He might be waiting for the opportune
moment when you’re not around.
ANTIFREEZE
Never use antifreeze in your pond or water feature. It is highly toxic to cats, dogs and the wildlife. If
you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze you must contact the surgery immediately.
(See the ‘wildlife in winter’ download on our website for great tips on keeping your water features a
liquid instead of a solid!)
How can you tell if your pet is poisoned if you didn’t see him eat anything?
Clinical signs include:
Salivating/Vomiting
Blood in stools
Nose bleeds
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Irregular heartbeat
Seizures
Loss of appetite
Change in urine output (frequency, quantity)
Some of these signs apply to animals that have (or are developing) an obstruction in the digestive tract
so call us straight away if your pet isn’t right.
O.K. I hope I haven’t put you off Christmas. That was all very doom and gloom but the following should
make you feel more comfortable. Read and apply the following tips as necessary to prevent your pet
getting into trouble this Christmas.
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Try to choose decorations that are not made of glass
Don’t hang decorations on the low branches of the tree and keep tinsel and garlands out of
reach
Keep candles high up to prevent them getting knocked over
by a wagging tail or a frisky footed feline
Wires should be tucked away or protected by a wire tidy in
case of nibblers
Food must stay out of reach at all times, remove bones from
meat if your pet is having a sample of the Christmas roast
Placing orange peel or aluminium foil under the tree can
help deter cats and dogs, or use double sided sticky tape to
keep cats from climbing is also a useful tip.
Don’t use additives in the water for you tree, it’s not necessary anyway but cats and dogs might
drink the water and become sick.
Use fishing line around your tree and secure to a wall to stop the tree toppling
Make the room inaccessible when your pet isn’t being supervised. Simply close the door or use a
baby gate when the house is empty.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year just like these two!
Keep our phone number handy in case you need to see us or you just need some advice over the phone.
My kindest regards,
Heather Lawton and all of the Bond Street Team