topic Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱 in Off-Topic

Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Marjo — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:14:52 GMT

Hi guys, how are you doing today?

Christmas time can be a fun celebration for us humans, but if we're not careful, it can be dangerous for our pets. 😞 There are some obvious and some not-so-obvious treats that we normally have during the holidays that can actually be harmful to our cats and dogs if they happen to eat them. Apart from foods, there are also items that are potentially dangerous that pet owners should take into account to minimise risks.

These foods are bad for dogs, cats or both:

Chocolate is poisonous to both cats and dogs
All grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs (mince pies and Christmas puddings!)
Blue cheese is bad for dogs
So are macadamia nuts
Garlic, chives and onion
Alcohol

These items should be used with caution around pets:

Tinsel if ingested can cause blockages
Snow globes - if a cat breaks it and licks the liquid, it can be fatal (it can contain anti-freeze)
Candles left unmonitored can cause a fire if a cat or dog gets curious, and can of course burn their little paws or whiskers
Fairy lights when chewed on or played with can burn and even electrocute a pet
Some Christmas time plants/flowers are poisonous to cats and dogs, such as poinsettia and mistletoe.
Lilies can be fatal to cats
As Cleoriff mentioned in another topic (thanks for the tip!), Christmas trees can also be a risk if your pet chews the branches (can cause obstruction)

Were any of these surprising to you guys? I wasn't aware of the blue cheese one. Do you know of any other foods or items we often use at Christmas time that we should be careful with around pets?

I found some instruction videos on the RSPCA website on how to make DIY cat and dog treats for Christmas, if you'd like your pets to have their own, safe, Christmas treats and want some inspiration! 🐶🐱

Some more tips on the PDSA website on keeping pets calm during the busy holiday period
Tips on the Pets at Home website for keeping pets safe during Christmas time
List of 10 hazards for pets at Christmas time here

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:01:07 GMT

My cats love a little bit of cheese, though NOT blue cheese as I don't like it!

This part was interesting @Marjo

Christmas plants may look pretty but poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, amaryllis, ferns and pine sap are poisonous to cats and dogs

However they missed one very important plant out of the list. Lilies (often sent in Christmas bouquets)

The stamen of lilies are poisonous to cats. What's worse, the stamen usually drop from the lily to the floor.

When I first learnt this I had lilies in my garden. I dug them all up. If I get a bouquet which contains lilies, I cut the stamen off when the flower opens.

Obviously the stamen are the brown orange stalks in the middle.

Apart from poisoning cats, they stain clothes and you have a hell of a job removing the stain.

The link below gives quite frightening info....

https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/cat-advice/lily-poisoning-in-cats/

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Marjo — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:28:13 GMT

Oh that's helpful info @Cleoriff ! I knew about lilies being bad for cats, but not that it's the specific part of the flower that's poisonous. I also didn't know about the ferns and pine sap!

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:36:14 GMT

@Marjo

Actually I learnt something new from that link. It's not just the stamen which are poisonous, it's the leaves and flowers as well. Even the water the lilies stand in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I shall now ban lilies full stop!!

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Marjo — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:00:24 GMT

It reminds me, I don't usually have any plants at home due to my cats always destroying them, but I did once browse around in a flower market stall, thinking it might be nice to get a new plant, hoping the cats would leave it alone this time. I asked if they have anything that are poisonous to pets, and they said no, everything is absolutely safe. I didn't buy anything although some plants looked quite nice and I was considering going back one day to get one. I don't remember which plants they were anymore, but they were definitely poisonous to cats. The person just didn't tell me. 😞 Made me feel bad and I wonder if anyone else had actually bought those and got told incorrect information. I had googled it when I got home.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:39:58 GMT

I did think of your Arthur and Drake @Marjo . You have posted a photo of a plant knocked on it's side with the compost all over the floor.

I think you would be better with artificial plants. They do some beautiful ones in Dunelm. Even large freestanding ones. Expensive, but they last forever. Also quite cat proof.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Marjo — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:54:02 GMT

I might be able to have plants if I hang them from the ceiling high enough so the cats won't reach actually. Maybe in my next flat (moving sometime next year) I'll set something up for that! I do love plants and flowers.

It's the same with plastic plants unfortunately. I've had a few, thinking it would be great as the cats wouldn't destroy them, but... Drake likes to chew plastic and then vomit up the pieces, so that would be a no, and then in addition to that, Arthur would just throw them around, rip them apart, and most likely carry them to the bottom of the stairs like he does with many other loose objects in the house. He likes to leave presents down there and I find the most random things on the shoe rack when I get home from work.

Having said that, if there are "plastic" plants where the leaves are made of canvas/cloth somehow, that might work. At least with Drake. Maybe I'll glue the pots on the shelf.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

gmarkj — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:55:26 GMT

Cactus/Cacti?

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

jonsie — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:14:27 GMT

@gmarkj wrote:
Cactus/Cacti?

How cruel are you?

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

liggerz87 — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:39:49 GMT

funny how he was sleeping

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Marjo — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:03:07 GMT

Aww that's such a cute sleeping position @liggerz87 ! 🐀🐀🐀

I actually have 2 cacti at the moment, but Arthur keeps biting chunks off them and I think they are pretty much done now. I need to throw them away. He doesn't seem bothered, I think cats' skin is much tougher than human skin anyway, but it's the last time I have cacti in the house. I also accidentally swiped at the cactus with my own hand the other day and got a few needles lodged in my finger.

I suppose I could get one of those glass-covered tiny cactus pots that would be safe from both the cats and my own clumsiness.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:13:42 GMT

Simple.. ban Christmas

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

liggerz87 — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 17:02:43 GMT

Ouch must have hurt ye rats sleep in well funny positions lol

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Hopeful2BHappy — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 07:08:14 GMT

And if I may, please ensure little children are not left unsupervised with plants described in this thread : clearly affecting our pets, and so irratant/toxic for humans too.

Especially as children will have the natural curiosity to touch and take to mouth the pretty colours and shapes they are seeing around the Christmas tree...

Poinsettia's milky sap in particular is allergenic to skin & eyes and toxic if ingested. (As majority of plants from Euphorbia family).

One of the pretiest plant, in my opinion, and most used in making Christmas wreaths is Holly.

Did you know that Holly leaves, if eaten, might cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach and intestinal problems.

Sadly and scary if not aware of this, the Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. They are especially dangerous when accidental eating by children attracted to the bright red berries. Ingestion of over 20 berries may be fatal to children.

Having said all of this, I have been handing these plants for years, as I love making my own wreaths and table decorations for Christmas. My "secret "?! I wear gloves mostly; when not, I make sure I don't rub my eye, eat with dirty hands, etc, and yes, the classic washing hands thoroughly...

This way, my dog, 3 cats and my child never had toxicity issues over the years...

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Cleoriff — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 08:22:30 GMT

Thank you for that information @Hopeful2BHappy .

Must admit I knew about the dangers of holly leaves and berries, though wasnt aware of any problems with the poinsettia plant.

As you say, this is the most widely used/seen plant over the festive period, generally sent as gifts or bought as table centrepieces. In fact my son bought me one last week and they do brighten up any room.

Thanks for the information. I certainly will be sure to pass it on.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

pgn — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 09:48:51 GMT

As children we were always told to avoid contact with the milky sap of the Poinsettia plant.

Mind you, there were a lot of things you wouldn't do today for health and safety reasons... Poking the little silvery beads of mercury and watching them skitter away and reclump was such fun!

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Cleoriff — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 10:32:34 GMT

@pgn wrote:

Mind you, there were a lot of things you wouldn't do today for health and safety reasons... Poking the little silvery beads of mercury and watching them skitter away and reclump was such fun!

Oh yes. Just imagine the amount of thermometers we broke (before digital) and running all round the ward picking up the glass and mercury beads!!

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 13:10:39 GMT

Did anyone else set fire to the gas taps in the science lab? (Off topic - don’t care)

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

jonsie — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 13:14:41 GMT

All very scary. How the hell did we all survive with the ridiculous things we did in childhood? A lot of the stuff we did back then would set alarm bells ringing now.

Lead soldiers and lead based paint, the number of units of alcohol recommended today, rubbers on pencils, teddy bears with sharp pins and detachable eyes, lead toy cars. OMG how am I still here.

Having said that, great advice about the Christmas plants and berries which was one thing even our parents warned us about. The safety of children is every parents' concern and you can never be too over-protective.

Re: Keeping pets safe and happy during the holidays 🐶🐱

pgn — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 13:16:36 GMT

Aerosol cans in the garden incinerator were pretty spectacular, from a distance.