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Christmas is said to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be full of potential dangers for your pet. Flashy decorations, festive foods, and yummy treats make us humans very happy, but they are also very tempting and risky for our pets, especially dogs and cats. We may be aware that Christmas pudding and chocolate are not good for our beloved pets. However, with a house full of guests and food it is hard to be on the lookout all the time. At FirstVet, our vets receive the highest number of calls from worried pet owners in December. So, we have gathered all the information you will need to ensure that both you and your pet can avoid unwanted surprises and instead enjoy a happy holiday season.
The most common symptoms pets experience during the holiday season are:
✔ Stomach problems after eating something they shouldn't.
✔ Injuries from fights with other pets.
✔ Poisoning after eating plants.
Register with FirstVet today and you'll always have a vet handy if something happens to your pet. We're open 24/7, all year round.
✔ My dog has eaten chocolate, raisins, a mince pie, Christmas decorations, or something else it shouldn't have.
✔ My cat has a wound, or is limping, after climbing the Christmas tree, or playing with the decorations.
✔ My cat has a urinary infection.
✔ My dog or cat has been in a fight with another animal.
✔ My dog or cat is scared of fireworks.
✔ Unbaked dough✔ Raisins and grapes✔ Christmas food✔ Chocolate✔ Water from the Christmas tree✔ Antifreeze✔ Tallow✔ Nuts✔ Candles and other decoration✔ Strings from Christmas present wrapping✔ Toxic plants such as lilies, mistletoe, and poinsettias
✔ Review your pet's first aid kit to make sure that you have, for example, food for a bland diet, bandage materials, and a thermometer available at home.
✔ Get new toys or safe treats to keep your dog or cat busy.
✔ Prepare a place where the dog and cat can be left in peace, to reduce stress.
✔ Make sure that Christmas food and poisonous items are kept out of reach.
There are many delicious treats during Christmas that tempt both our dogs and cats. But what really happens if our animals happen to ingest saffron, one of Christmas' most popular spices? Is saffron toxic to dogs or cats? Read what our vet says here!
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Beautiful Christmas decorations, fragrant flowers and food in abundance. Christmas is a wonderful holiday for both humans and animals. But Christmas can also be dangerous for our beloved pets. Here we list the most common temptations that can be dangerous and toxic to your dog or cat at Christmas time - and how to avoid them!
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and can also affect cats, but why? If they eat it, how much is likely to make them ill? Chocolate is made from cocoa solids and caffeine. Cocoa solids come from roasting the seeds from the cocoa plant (Theobroma cacao). The seeds contain theobromine, which is toxic. Cocoa solids usually account for 20 to 70% of chocolate. Cocoa is also present in cocoa powder, cocoa beans, cocoa shell mulches, amongst other things. We often speak to owners whose pet has eaten their way into wrapped presents or broken into a cupboard to reach the chocolate.
Veteran horses are generally categorised as those aged over 15 or 20 years old. Approximately 40% of the UK horse population is currently in this age bracket. As a consequence of ageing, certain health issues become more common. Careful management can help us to spot them early, which is essential for the well-being of these horses.
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