Mary Allen
The colorfully decorated tree, the Christmas cookies, and the feast on Christmas Eve is a matter of course for us. But they can be dangerous for our animals. Here you can find out what you should pay attention to so that the Christmas season with dogs and cats is as relaxed as possible.
Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree with its colorful lights and bobbing branches is particularly seductive for our furry friends. Christmas tree balls, tinsel, and the cables of the fairy lights invite cats in particular to play. But the tree, which is so beautiful for us, harbors great dangers for our animals. The glass balls break very easily and dogs and cats can cut themselves from the shards. In the worst case, the shards are even swallowed. Tinsel and angel hair are also easily swallowed and can cause an intestinal obstruction. If the furry friends nibble on the chain of lights, there is even a risk of a life-threatening electric shock.
Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that the tree is secured as well as possible. Fairy lights should be attached in such a way that the animals cannot reach the cable. A nice alternative to glass decorations is plastic balls or decorations made of natural materials such as pine cones or nuts. It also makes sense to attach the tree itself to the wall with a string, for example. This way it cannot tip over if the cat or dog gets weak and pulls on the twigs.
Wrapping Paper and Ribbons
Even what is under the tree can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Long gift ribbons and colorful wrapping paper invite you to play. Just like tinsel, gift ribbons can be easily swallowed and cause an intestinal obstruction. The sharp edges of wrapping paper can injure the animals’ paws or mouths. During the gift-giving, make sure that there are no small parts lying around that your pet could swallow. After the gift-giving, all packaging should be cleared away as soon as possible.
Tip: While the presents are being presented, you can keep your darling busy with a few treats. That way he won’t be tempted to grab the rustling paper and play with it.
Toxic Deco
Christmas decorations can also be dangerous in a completely different way. Many Christmas plants are poisonous to our animals. Poinsettias, holly, holly, and mistletoe cause vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and a drop in blood pressure when consumed. They should therefore be set up inaccessible to dogs and cats. If you want to be on the safe side, it’s best not to do it at all. Spraying snow is just as poisonous for your animals. Even in small amounts, it can lead to shortness of breath and should therefore be taboo for pet owners as a decoration.
Tip: It is best to have the telephone number of the responsible animal emergency number ready at Christmas time with your dog and cat in case of an emergency. So you are prepared if your fur nose eats something harmful and behaves in a conspicuous manner.
A Feast for Humans and Animals
Roasts, dumplings, and red cabbage are simply part of Christmas. However, leftovers from the feast should never be fed to your animals. The greasy and spicy food puts a heavy strain on digestion. Small bites from the table are not doing dogs and cats any favors – there is a risk of stomach aches and diarrhea. Care should also be taken with bones for dogs. When cooked, they splinter easily and can injure the dog.
Not only hearty food should be taboo for the four-legged friend. Christmas cookies and chocolate don’t belong in the feeding bowl either. The theobromine contained in chocolate is not tolerated by dogs and cats and causes severe vomiting and cramps even in small amounts. The following applies: the higher the cocoa content, the greater the risk of poisoning. For cats and small dogs, large amounts of chocolate can even be fatal. If you still want to spoil your darling with “sweets”, you can feed it special dog chocolate or bake your own suitable Christmas biscuits. You can find recipes for delicious dog biscuits here.