Christmas Decorations Pose Safety Risk To Pets

(KNSI) – Curiosity may not always kill the cat, but it can lead to significant injuries during the holiday season.

Ruff Start Rescue Executive Director Azure Davis says cats, dogs, and other pets can see decorations as toys, which has the potential to turn disastrous. She suggests leaving the tree’s bottom limbs bare and says some ornaments should just stay in storage.

“The glass ones are the scariest ones. They can break. They can actually go right into their intestines. It’s the last thing you want to have laying out. So, just don’t risk it if it is something you are worried about.”

Davis says the tree itself can pose some problems as well. She says puppies and younger animals may want to eat the needles as they fall off of a live fir or spruce. They can also get caught painfully in the digestive tract.

People tend to put additives into the water they feed the tree, which can be toxic for pets if consumed. Davis says to hide it by making the tree stand look like a present or some other neutral object so your pets don’t go investigating.

Davis says most board games are made up of a material containing zinc. Toy batteries can be toxic, too. She says dogs will generally leave garland alone, but cats like to get into it, which can get twisted in their stomachs.

If an emergency visit is needed, Davis says it can be difficult to get in with the limited availability at veterinary clinics this time of year. New toys can help your pet avoid trouble by keeping them distracted. Davis says they need to be the right kind, though.

“Look into brain games. There’s a lot of stimulation games for dogs and for cats that keep them busy. It gets hard. Animals get cooped up, and they get bored in the winter. So, looking into brain games, there’s snuffle mats, there’s kongs that you can put peanut butter in, a lot of different activities that actually have mental stimulation to them.”

Davis says if you plan on getting your pet a present, avoid rawhides. She says they often break off in large pieces that can get swallowed, which is a hazard.

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