Christmas And New Year’s 2019 Holiday Pet Safety Tips

TUCSON, AZ — While many Tucson residents are focusing on gift giving, get-togethers with family and friends, holiday concerts and parades and getting the Christmas tree and house decorated, there’s something else pet owners should consider this holiday season: the safety of their animals.

With all those delightful sweets and other flavorful holiday celebration foods on countertops or dropping occasionally on the kitchen floor, careful attention is needed, said Nikki Reck, Pima Animal Care Center’s public information officer. Many know that foods containing xylitol or chocolate are harmful to dogs, but did you know spicy and fatty foods are also unsafe for pets? So are grapes and raisins, citrus, avocado, coconut or coconut oil, onions and garlic, nuts, chives, fruit pits, yeast doughs or foods containing bones. And those cocktails certainly aren’t any better for pets, Reck says. “Don’t leave alcoholic beverages unattended. If a pet knocks it over and drinks some, that’s also not good for them,” she adds.

For safer holiday pet treats, Reck advises pet owners to skip the human foods and “only feed pets food that is made for them. Pet food and treats are made specifically for their bodies.”

But what about Christmas decorations? Can they be unsafe too? Yes. Reck says Christmas trees need to be anchored securely to avoid a tree fall. Christmas tree water is also unsafe. “Don’t let pets drink the tree water because of the fertilizers and potential for harmful bacteria,” she warns. Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe can also give pets stomach issues and other problems, while some lilies might cause cat kidney failure.

Tinsel presents another danger for pets at the holidays, as pets swallowing it can result in vomiting, dehydration, an obstructed digestive tract and possibly even surgery. Then there’s all that holiday mood lighting by candles and wired lights. Reck says candles can prove dangerout to household pets if they get knocked over or even just when pets investigate those flickering flames too closely, resulting in burns. Wires and lights can be hazardous to pets if they chew on them, causing electrical shock that might prove deadly, or batteries might result in throat and mouth burn for pets.

Sometimes holiday activities or gatherings might also prove hazardous to pets, Reck says. “Any activity that is out of the ordinary can be upsetting for pets. New visitors can be overwhelming for pets. To help them feel more comfortable, place them in a quiet room or crate with a toy or enrichment item, like a Kong filled with peanut butter” for dogs, she detailed. For public holiday events, Reck says pets are better off left at home, but they shouldn’t be left outside. And she gives a reminder that it’s illegal in the city of Tucson and in Pima County for pets to be left on tie-outs.

But regardless of precautions taken by pet owners around the holidays, some pets will still run away. Hundreds of pets bolt from their homes on New Year’s too, as PACC recently reported pet runaway numbers of 379 and 371 in the first two weeks of January the past two years.

One of the best runaway mitigation strategies is to suit pets up in slip-proof collars fitted with a name tag with your phone number and a license tag, according to Reck. PACC sells all those items, and funds from the sales remain in the shelter to benefit the animals housed there. Another key pet safety and recovery method in the case of a fleeing pet is to get them microchipped beforehand — such as at PACC’s free microchipping clinic through Dec. 22 — then verify that PACC has the correct phone number linked to your pet’s microchip. You can do that by calling 520-724-5900 and pressing 6, then leaving your phone number and name.

Some pet owners traveling for the holidays will need to have their beloved furry friends cared for by pet sitters. In that case, Reck advises, “If you plan on leaving a pet with a sitter, make sure it is someone they are familiar with and enjoy being around. If the person could house sit in your home, your pets would feel more comfortable. If they cannot, make sure the sitter checks on them several times a day.” Traveling pet owners should also leave spare leashes and collars and emergency contacts with the pet sitter, such as the phone numbers for poison control and the emergency vet, for example.

If a holiday pet sitter giving home care isn’t possible, taking your pet to live at a Tucson pet boarding facility while you’re away is another option.

But the bottom line for the holidays is: “Just make sure pets are comfortable and feel safe,” Reck concludes.