There are few things that can derail a holiday celebration faster than having to rush your pet to the emergency veterinary hospital. Sadly, thanks to easy access to tons of delicious foods, fascinating holiday decor, and the comings and goings of friends and family members, this is not an uncommon event during this time of year.

Your Embrace Veterinary Care family wants you to enjoy this special time of year free of worry about your beloved pets. We've put together our favorite, time-tested holiday pet safety tips designed to keep your best friend out of harm's way, while still soaking in the season together.

Mouthwatering Dangers

 Nothing says "holidays" like a table full of incredible food, and any pet owner knows that turkey, gravy, stuffing, cookies, and the like don't go unnoticed by our four-legged friends. Thanks to the combination of more available food, and not enough supervision, food-related emergencies are more common during this time of year. Common culprits include:

• Chocolate (especially dark or baker's)
• Xylitol (found in sugar-free products and many peanut butters)
• Garlic, onions, and chives
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol
• Fruit pits
• Meat wrappers and bones (can cause choking or intestinal blockage)
• Poultry skins, gravy, other fatty products (can trigger a dangerous inflammatory condition called pancreatitis)

To protect your pet, make sure all food and drink is kept out of their reach, clear leftovers immediately, and keep trash and compost bins covered at all times. Resist the temptation to feed table scraps to your pet, and ask that your guests do the same. 

Decking the Halls

Decorating the home is one of the highlights of the holidays, but keep in mind that many different types of decor can pose a risk to pets. Consider the following:

• Light strings and extension cords can cause entanglement, or electric shock if chewed
• Tinsel. popcorn string, and ribbon can cause gastrointestinal blockage if ingested (cats love tinsel!)
• Some holiday greenery is poisonous, including holly, lilies, amaryllis, and poinsettia
• Avoid hanging ornaments on accessible branches of the tree, especially anything glass or breakable plastic
• Don't allow pets to drink tree water, as it often contains formaldehyde and/or flame retardant chemicals
• Presents containing food should not be kept under the tree

Holiday Pet Safety Made Simple

Holiday parties, events, and travel plans add another layer of unpredictability to holiday pet safety if you're not prepared. We hope that these holiday pet safety reminders will help your celebrations remain merry and bright this season. And, as always, please don't hesitate to call us at (281)-884-9911 with questions or concerns, if need be.