Keeping your pets safe at Christmas

Calming Scents - Calming scents can have a huge impact on a pets wellbeing, evoking memories of better times and helping ease anxiety. They can be a great way to try and alleviate any anxiousness in cats in particular.

A Quiet Room - Sometimes we all just need to take a moment for ourselves and this is no different for your beloved pet. So when Nan's snoring starts becoming a little too much for them, having one room that is quiet and peaceful where they can retreat to can make all the difference. Make the room as comfortable as possible with their bed and other favourite items. Also, try adding something that smells just like you for extra familiarity and coziness.

Longer Walks and Playtime - We know Christmas is going to be busy, but before your guests arrive why not try carving out some time to take your dog for a walk, or to have a little playtime with your pet and its favourite toys. This will help expel some of that anxious energy, making them more settled and at ease when you’re not able to give them those squidgy hugs all day as you’re too busy preparing the veg.

Tinsel - No self respecting home can call itself decorated if it doesn’t have tinsel absolutely everywhere. But whether it’s new, or years old with dried and hardened blu tack still attached, tinsel is one of the most common choking hazards for our curious pets. To ensure that tinsel doesn’t become a problem, make sure it is kept high up and well out of reach from your pets.

Christmas Ornaments - Christmas ornaments can come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s safe to say that snow globes and other such festive adornments were not made with pet safety in mind. It’s probably how the light shines off them, but much like toddlers, pets can’t keep their little paws away from the things. If you must display Christmas ornaments (and you must), then it’s a good idea to place them at a height where your pet cannot reach them, and on sturdy surfaces away from the edge of shelves or tables where they can be easily knocked to the floor.

Nuts - You must be crackers if you’re thinking of leaving nuts around. If you just can’t go the day without your fix however, then try to serve them in bowls and containers that make it difficult for any runaway pistachios to make their way into your little pet's mouths. Aside from being a choking hazard, some pets, like us, can also have allergic reactions.

Batteries - We’ve all been there, you open your Christmas present only to find you need a pack of batteries rivaling Battersea to get any use from your new toy or gadget. But for those of us who are organised and have them in time for Christmas, extra care should be taken to make sure they don’t make it into the paths of unsuspecting pets. This goes for battery compartments on toys and games too, make sure these are secure to avoid any batteries falling out and escaping.

Dried spices - Nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and cloves are all beautifully smelling dry spices that add that touch of sophistication to any Christmas home. Because of their appearance and fragrance, our beloved pets commonly mistake them for treats and due to the unorthodox shape of some spices they pose a huge choking risk. Because they are typically kept on tables, make sure they are far away enough from the edge to make it difficult for most pets to reach, if possible, place them up high.

Grapes and raisins - Although juicy and delicious to us, did you know that just one grape or raisin can be fatally toxic for dogs and cats, as they are unable to metabolize them. This can result in sudden kidney failure, so it is essential to keep them well away especially as they can look extremely tempting due to their size and colour.

Chocolate - Rumour has it that some people actually share their chocolate, we’ll believe that when we see it. However, if you are tempted to share a piece of chocolatey goodness with your dog or cat, please don’t. Chocolate is known to cause issues with breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even cardiac arrest, so reach for the specific cat and dog chocolate products if you really must treat them.

Alcohol - The alcohol can tend to flow a bit more freely around Christmas time, and we can all be partial to an extra little tipple. However, as bad as too much alcohol might make us feel, for our cats and dogs, even just a few sips can cause severe alcohol poisoning. If you want to avoid calling your vet on Christmas Day, keep alcohol as far from your pet as possible.

Xylitol - Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar free or low sugar treats and desserts, and although it can be a great alternative to sugar for those watching their intake, it is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. For them, Xylitol pulls water into the intestines, with small amounts causing hypoglycemia, liver failure and even seizures or death.

Onion and garlic - Onion and garlic are especially harmful to cats and dogs, so make sure that any plates of unfinished food are kept well out of reach. For dogs in particular, they damage the red blood cells and cause them to become anemic, suffer from weakness and shortness of breath. If your cat or dog ingests any onion or garlic, it is important to contact your vet immediately.