12/18/2025
🎄🐶🐱 Winter Holiday Pet Safety: 7 Hazards to Watch For! 🐾🎄
The holidays are full of fun, food, and decorations — but some seasonal items can be dangerous for our furry family members. Keep your pets safe this winter by watching out for these common hazards 👇
🍫 Chocolate
Chocolate is the #1 pet toxin reported to the ASPCA. Candy, brownies, cookies, cocoa powder, and baking chips should always be kept out of reach. Even small amounts can cause tummy upset — larger amounts can lead to serious heart and neurologic issues.
🍇 Grapes & Raisins
These can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Vomiting often happens within 24 hours, followed by lethargy, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
🌿 Holiday Plants
Festive plants like poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, evergreen trees, and Christmas cactus can cause GI upset. Others, like amaryllis and Christmas kalanchoe, may cause more serious reactions.
✨ Tinsel & Glass Ornaments
Sparkly tinsel and breakable ornaments can cause intestinal blockages or serious mouth injuries. Cats especially love shiny decorations — choose pet-safe décor when possible!
🍬 Xylitol (Sugar Substitute)
Found in sugar-free gum, candy, and some recipes. Xylitol can cause vomiting, seizures, loss of coordination, and even liver failure in pets.
🔌 Electrical Cords
Chewing on cords can lead to painful electrical shocks. Secure cords, tape them down, or use protective covers — especially with puppies and kittens.
💊 Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter medications (even Tylenol!) can be extremely dangerous. Keep purses, bags, and pill bottles safely stored.
🚨 Think your pet got into something they shouldn’t?
Call your veterinarian right away or contact ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435
🎅🐾 From all of us at Rossmoyne Animal Hospital & Urgent Care Center, we wish you a safe, happy, and pet-friendly holiday season! ❤️🎄
