The nightmare before Christmas…

Chocolate, or more accurately coco solids, is poisonous to dogs and there is often a lot more of it around at this time of year! The basic rule is the posher the chocolate, the worse it is as the more expensive brands contain higher percentages of coco solids. The active ingredient of the coco solid is Theobromide and it is this which is poisonous to dogs. It causes agitation, palpitations and can damage both the heart and the kidney. If your dog has eaten chocolate and you are concerned, check the amount of coco solids on the ingredients list and call your vet. Chocolate poisoning is treated by making the dog sick, putting them on a drip and giving them sedatives if they are agitated or fitting. Ensure during the festive period that all treats are kept well out of reach of dogs (don’t forget the ones on the tree) and that the only chocolate they are given is especially for dogs.

For cats, Christmas can be great, as someone puts a huge cat toy in the middle of the living room hung about with all sorts of sparkly toys! In particular they find tinsel fascinating and will often play with it if they get the chance. However, this can cause problems. The way cat’s heads are put together means they are prone to getting things stuck around the back of their throat. The small fronds of tinsel are just the right size to get caught here, especially if the cat has been chewing at them. This causes a lot of irritation and they can cough and sneeze profusely. They usually require an anaesthetic to remove them. Ensure this doesn’t happen to your pet by keeping the tinsel and any other delicate Christmas decorations well out of reach (or abandon them altogether if you have lively pets!)

It is tempting, when we are tucking into a fabulous spread for Christmas lunch, to share this with our pets. However, do be careful as their bodies are less able to cope with unusually rich food and nobody wants to be clearing up vomit and diarrhoea on Christmas day. If you do give your pet a treat, stick to small amounts of lean meat and vegetables, avoid rich gravy or dressings. Also, NEVER feed cats or dogs turkey bones. These can cause huge damage to the guts and sometimes require expensive surgery to remove them. Another thing to avoid is feeding your dog a share of the Christmas pudding or cake, as raisins are very toxic to dogs and can cause severe kidney damage. The same goes for grapes.

Christmas is a time for meeting with friends and socialising, which often means a regular supply of visitors to the house. Most animals will cope with this fine and enjoy all the extra attention, but some will find this very stressful. If you know your cat or dog dislikes having people in the house, ensure they have the means to escape from them and don’t force them to be sociable. Some dogs can be aggressive towards strangers in their home. If this is the case for your pet, always shut them away when people arrive and only let them greet them once your friends have come in and sat down. Give your guests a treat for your pet to try to associate their presence with nice things, so your dog will be more accepting of them.Also, remember to keep your pets routine as close to normal as possible, which will help them feel much more settled over the busy festive period.

Christmas and New Year are a big time for fireworks, which can be extremely stressful for pets who find them frightening. Read the Fireworks Factsheet for lots of advice on how to help keep them calm.