The holiday season is ramping up, which means you’ll be showing your pet a little extra love! We strongly endorse cuddling with your kitty more, gifting new toys, trying new recipes, etc., as long as you make safety a priority. Unfortunately, there are quite a few opportunities for your animal to be injured, become sick, have a surge of anxiety and so much more. Cloud Peak is committed to our patients, and we want to make sure that you do not need to make any avoidable trips to the vet. If you have any problems, concerns or questions, please let us know! Our number is (307) 347-2781. We also encourage you to explore more of our website. Let’s jump into it!
Holiday decor is a wonderful way to start off any celebration. After all, who could imagine a Christmas without a Christmas tree, or Hanukkah without a lit Menorah? That being said, there are definitely some safety precautions to keep in mind as you’re getting the holiday decor box out of the attic. When you’re rifling through last year’s decor, keep in mind that the following are items that are toxic to pets:
- Mistletoe
- Poinsettias
- Christmas tree preservatives
- Holly
- Tinsel
- Potpourri
- Lights
- Lilies
- Amaryllis
- Candles
- Broken ornaments
Many life-threatening health situations arise from the ingestion of these items – keep an extra eye on what you bring into the house. To shift gears a little, let’s chat about specific foods of the season to avoid.
Say No to that Cute Face
The constant begging can start to chip away at your will to keep human food from your little pet. As hard as it is, it’s important to keep your pet safe and not give into the cute face and the pleading eyes. To do that, you have to know what to be on the lookout for! Below are some classic, common, indulgent foods you may love and want to share with your companion, but are toxic and dangerous for them to consume. Across from the “no-no foods,” we’ll give you a replacement for that food!
| Instead of this… | Try this! |
| Chocolate (ingredients like caffeine, dairy, and artificial sweeteners can cause problems for your pet) | Peanut butter |
| Macadamia nuts (they are the most toxic nuts to dogs) | Green beans |
| Alcohol (no matter how small of an amount, alcohol can shut down vital organs and could lead to death) | Pumpkin puree |
| Fatty meat/ skin (fat from meat can cause pancreatitis in your pet) | White meat, fish, and very lean meats |
| Cooked bones (they are very brittle and can cause problems like choking, and very serious damage to their mouth, throat, and intestines) | Oatmeal and cottage cheese |
| Eggnog (it is very fatty, and can cause problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis) | Yogurt |
| Garlic and onions (they can cause problems with red blood cells and can lead to anemia) | Peas and broccoli |
| Ham and bacon (these meats are a poor choice for your animal because of their high sodium content) | Chicken |
| Raisins and grapes (can lead to kidney failure and other kidney problems) | Apples, blueberries, and bananas |
| Uncooked yeast dough (the dough will continue to ferment in your pet’s tummy, which can poison your pet’s system) | Wheat bread |
Although there are some foods and decor you need to be wary of, you do not need to worry about spoiling your kitty. There are many alternatives to the toxic foods we’ve listed above – for more information about why these foods are a poor choice for your pet, check out this link!
Cloud Peak wants you to have as much fun with your pet for as long as possible, so please be careful of what you’re giving your pet access to. If you have any questions, concerns, or advice, give us a call! We are eager to help you with anything your pup may need, so let us know how we can help. Our number is (307) 347-2781 – we look forward to hearing from you! Happy Holidays and stay safe.
