Pet Proof the Holidays

Hazardous Decorations

About Fireworks

Holidays and celebrations around the year offer excitement and fun, but the many festivities may also pose a danger to your pet. Be sure to take the following steps to keep your pet safe and comfortable during these times.

General tips to ensure your pet's safety:

• Choose and display seasonal plants and decorations carefully. Many items pose a physical danger to pets.
• Be mindful that extra household activity many cause considerable stress for your pet. Some pets may try to escape as family and friends enter and leave your home, or react with other unacceptable behaviors.
• Provide your pet a safe, comfortable room or space to retreat to if they feel stressed by the extra activities. Spend quiet time with your pet to help them feel relaxed.
• Request visiting family and friends to be conscious of your pet’s temperament and safety when interacting with the animal. Be sure guests stowaway medications and refrain from feeding your cat or dog human foods.
• Request parental assistance and be especially aware of how children are interacting with your pet—a well meaning treat could result in an emergency trip to your veterinarian.
• Keep your veterinarian’s contact information readily available and find out what the clinic’s holidays hours are in advance of the holiday.
• Maintain your pet’s daily routine as much as possible.

Potentially hazardous decorations:                                                              Back to Top

• Electric cords - avoid pet exposure to electric cords. If they were chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide electric cords, and never let your pet chew on them.
• Ribbons, tinsel, and fake basket grass - once ingested these can get caught in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction.
• Batteries - contain corrosives.  If ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Glass ornaments - can cut the tissues of the gastro-intestinal tract if ingested.
• Plastic decorations such as Easter eggs - can cut the tissues of the gastro-intestinal tract if ingested.
• Christmas tree water - may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, that an also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.                                                                       

Special note about fireworks:

While we may find fireworks exciting, they can be incredibly fear-inducing and alarming to animals. As a result, every year during times when fireworks are commonly used (Fourth of July, New Years Eve, baseball games, etc.), many animals are lost, injured, and even killed as a result of their fear and subsequent reactions to the commotion. Household pets may run away from home and become lost or hurt because they are frightened by fireworks. Larger animals particularly horses also react unpredictably when they hear fireworks. Horses will often panic and run into fences or other obstacles.

If you have pets, make every effort to keep them indoors during the times when fireworks are being used in your community. If you have horses or other large animals, try to pasture them away from any roadway and any location where there might be firework displays. Try to stay with them and keep them calm. By being near at hand, you will be able to come to their aid if they get into trouble and need help.

Click here for a list of common pet poisons.                                                    

Updated March 2009                                                                                          Back to Top

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