Holiday Safety Guide: What Your Veterinarian Wants You to Know to Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season with Your Pets

The holidays are a wonderful time, filled with family and friends, food, fun, and even travel! The holiday season can also be filled with stress. There are so many plans to keep track of; hosting family gatherings, making tasty feasts, decorating the house, taking care of presents, making travel plans to get from here to there, and trying to maintain a festive spirit all the while. With all that happens over the holidays, there are many situations where stress can arise. With all the hustle and bustle, it is understandable that some things may slip your mind.

As a veterinarian, I’ve worked my share of holiday shifts, and have seen some situations that could have been avoided with a little bit of pre-planning. I’ve also had my own pets show me where I’ve forgotten to pet-proof; so, I’ve compiled a list to help you plan ahead and remind you of things to hopefully avoid. I’ve thought back on my experiences with my own patients, my own pets, and I asked my fellow veterinary colleagues what would we like you to know about how to keep your pet safe during the holiday season- in hopes that you can avoid these mishaps this holiday season!

Plan ahead

Taking a bit of time to plan for your pet during the holidays can smooth out potential problems before they arise

Order extra food for your pet. This is particularly true if it is a prescription food. Covid has caused many shortages and supply chain issues; the holiday season is unlikely to make those problems better. It is best to order extra in advance and prevent running out or feeding something inappropriate to your pet, especially if they have allergies or are sensitive to sudden changes in diet.

Get additional pet supplies. Similar to food shortages, running out of kitty litter does not make for a happy holiday! If there is something that you usually purchase on an as-needed basis, be sure to get extra so that you don’t run out. Some cats can be very sensitive about their litter and a quick change coupled with the stress from visitors or absentee owners can result in feline lower urinary tract disease or Feline Urologic Syndrome (inflammation of the urinary tract which causes discomfort and or pain and may result in urinating outside the litter box). Remember holiday store hours may be shortened, in-store or online supply limited, and shipping times prolonged, meaning if you didn’t plan ahead – you may be out of luck.

Order medications well in advance. If your pet needs medication, whether regularly, such as with insulin or heart medications, or needs anti-anxiety medications or sedatives for management of stress associated with fireworks or travel, be sure to talk to your regular veterinarian well in advance to get the medications you will need. Calling the day before you leave is unlikely to give you the desired result!

Also, be sure you are up to date with your veterinarian. Legally, to fill a prescription a veterinarian must have seen your pet within the last year – so if it’s been a few years, and you know you are traveling and you need something, book an appointment now! Veterinary clinics are experiencing unprecedented volume. In the last year, many more pets have been welcomed into the home, however, there are fewer veterinarians available who are struggling to best meet that demand, so book well in advance of your plans.

Plan for your pet. Whether you are traveling with your pet, leaving your pet at home with a caregiver or boarding facility, or having family and friends to your house, have a plan in place for how to best manage the holidays for your pet (tips on each situation below). You may want to have a kit on hand for little emergencies, such as The Uh Oh kit by Puppylation Health (an at-home emergency kit created for owners by an emergency veterinarian – for dogs only). You may also consider investing in a dog appeasing pheromone (D.A.P) product or a similar product for cats (i.e., Feliway), which may help to signal to your pet through pheromones, that the environment is a safe one. This may help to reduce stress for some pets. They come in plug-ins, collars, and sprays and are usually intended for crates or small rooms. As always, safety with plug-in products should be considered, as there have been plug-in products that become very hot and potentially dangerous to household safety.

Have an emergency plan in place. When an emergency arises, having something already planned can help save lives! Gather all your pet’s medical information together (age, weight, microchip number, current and past medical conditions, current medications and supplements, vaccine status, and anything else pertinent to your pet’s health). I have a folder where I keep all the pet info together, with clinic info printed out too – then in an emergency, I can just grab and go! Be sure to have your regular clinic information including current phone number, address, and hours of operation over the holidays. It is a good idea to have 24-hour emergency hospital information as well if your regular clinic is not able to meet those needs. I have included a blank Pet Emergency Information Form for you to print and fill out – then you will have it on hand.

In the event, your pet may have gotten into something, call your regular veterinarian, emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline immediately. The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline is staffed 24-hours with veterinarians and veterinary toxicologists (1-888-426-4435 – a fee may apply). They will want to know your pet's age, weight, medical history, as well as what your pet was exposed to, how much of it, and when it happened, so be sure to have this information on hand. 

Travel with your pet  

There are many things to consider if you want to bring your pet with you when you travel, and pre-planning is essential, even more so during the holidays. You cannot show up at the airport with your pet without having made arrangements ahead of time. Interstate or international travel may require health certificates from your veterinarian or a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (also known as a health certificate) with proof of current rabies vaccination, even if traveling by car. Depending on where you are traveling with your pet, there may be paperwork that must be filled out by a specific veterinarian within the correct time frame. So be sure to check that your veterinarian has the appropriate federal accreditation, and you are completing paperwork within the required timeframe for the location you plan to travel to. Check out the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Imports & Exports page for more detailed information or here for interstate information. Also, make sure the host knows your pet is coming with you and has appropriate accommodations. If where you are staying also has pets, be sure you can use a space that is safe for all pets in the home. Don’t put an unfamiliar cat in a room with a bunny, bird, guinea pig, or other small prey species; any small prey species while protected in a cage (sometimes), still suffers stress from the threat of a hunter in their space.

Travel by car. Pets should be safely restrained in the car, and never left alone in the car - in any weather. Never transport your pet in the bed of a truck; any quick stop could be devastating. If you are going long distances, remember to leash your dog for potty breaks – an escapee mid-trip, where no one knows the area, is no fun!

Travel by air. See your veterinarian ensure your pet can travel safely, some brachycephalic (squish-faced breeds) have difficulty with travel, as stress and poor airflow increase health risks. Verify with the airline what the requirements are for travel within the cabin or as cargo. Consider where you are traveling from and where you will be landing, temperatures in cargo can be unsafe for some pets and if delayed on the tarmac a pet may be exposed to colder or hotter temperatures longer than tolerable. Be sure you have an appropriately sized carrier for your pet and airline requirements. Check with the airline as each airline may have a different carrier size and paperwork requirements. Also, remember to add extra time to your travel schedule as maneuvering with a pet in an airport can be difficult at best. Lastly, not all airports have pet relief areas, so pets may be required to be in their carriers for very long times, so consider if appropriate for your pet.

Pack for your pet travel. Remember to pack your pet’s food, medications, and medical information when traveling, as well as all the necessary tools (kitty litter, leashes, carrier, toys, food dishes, etc.). Ensure your pet can travel safely and comfortably, if you have a senior pet, provide secure footing during transport. Consider where you are going and plan for your pet’s needs. Will you need flea and tick medication for your pet when you get there, or maybe need appropriate footwear to deal with salty, snowy roads?

Leaving your pet at home

Many families leave pets home with a pet sitter, or at a boarding facility. Depending on what works for you and your pet, finding the right option will likely require booking ahead of time. Boarding facilities usually require up-to-date vaccines, and if your pet has health issues, medical boarding at a veterinary clinic may be the more appropriate option. Wherever you decide to have your pet stay, be sure to call and book ahead as space fills quickly. If you are having someone pet-sit, provide them with all the medical health information listed above. Give them your holiday contact information, so that in an emergency they can reach you as quickly as possible. If you are leaving your pet at home while you go out for holiday merriment, unplug decorations, make sure there are no edible presents under the tree, and take out the trash before you go (more on that later)!

Having people in the home

We often welcome family and friends into our home, which can be quite stressful for our furry family. Lots of different, new, people walking around their home, maybe moving their toys, maybe poking, and petting them in ways they don’t enjoy, and just generally making their day-to-day very different.

Give guests guidance. Be sure to let your guests know what is okay for your pet and what is not. Remind your guests that take medications and vitamins, that you have a pet, so please keep items safely stored. If hosting a party, let your guests know you have a pet as some people with allergies or compromised immune systems may need to take some precautions.

Consider your pet. If your dog has arthritis, maybe don’t have young toddlers play around him – a baby falling reaching for something to grab onto, can lead to a sore dog getting hurt, or sometimes worse. If you have a puppy or ‘rascally’ pet, be sure to warn visitors. In the past, I have warned many houseguests about my Stella (a Lab Border Collie cross), who would find whatever food item there was at nose level in the house (we lost a few presents that turned out to be food over the years to Stella). I’ve also warned visitors about my cat, Shenanigans’ love of earphone cords, if you left them out – you didn’t have working earphones anymore.

Provide a safe place. If your pet doesn’t want to be social with your guests, then provide them a safe place in their own home where they won’t be bothered.

Pet guests? If guests ask to bring their own pet, be sure you know your pet is familiar and comfortable with them, or give your pet some time to be appropriately introduced. Be sure to always monitor the pets, to ensure there aren’t any fights. This is a very common problem during the holidays; remember there is good smelling food, attention, and pets going around – it’s very easy to get jealous of what one dog got or get accidentally stepped on by a rowdy family member and suddenly (a preventable) fight occurs. When in doubt, it is okay to politely decline to allow additional pets in your home.

Decorations

Really, I should have written this last month as the decoration season (in my mind at least) started before Halloween! There is something to decorating the house during colder months, that makes the long dark nights more tolerable. However, when considering your pet’s safety, decorations can be very problematic over the entire holiday season. Here are just a few to keep your pets away from:

Candles: Make sure they are safe for use around pets; some have essential oils that are toxic to dogs and cats, many of which are holiday candles. Do not leave candles unattended and put them out when not in the room, kitty whiskers and paws and even dog tails can quickly cause havoc!

Tinsel and ribbon: Really anything that hangs off your tree or is long and stringy, is basically begging for your cat to either climb the tree or eat the tinsel/ribbon. These are terrible foreign bodies in the intestines of cats usually, but dogs can also eat these. Imagine the string on a sweatshirt hood when you pull the cord almost all the way out – the hood edge gets all folded up – well that is what happens inside the cat when they eat tinsel and often results in the need for costly surgery, or other emergency management.

String lights, electric cords, and batteries: Electrocutions often occur over the holidays as curious puppies chew on interesting cords or chew into batteries. Cats have also been known to chew on string lights and cause burns. Remember to unplug lights when not around the decorations to prevent pets from accidental harm.

Ornaments: Salt ornaments can cause toxicity and are often made by sweet little ones and hung low enough to draw in the most discerning dog palate. Glass ornaments can break and be consumed or cause cuts. Candy canes may be sweetened with xylitol, so be sure to put only pet-safe ornaments up.

Potpourris and other décor: These can be both dried flowers or essential oils, which may cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested or get into the eyes or ears. Remember to verify that any essential oils used are safe for pets, and at that concentration. Some essential oils may need to be diluted properly to be safe, and many are inappropriate in a house with birds, so check before using them or avoid use altogether.

Plants (festive, but not for pets): Holly and ivy, mistletoe, and lilies can be very problematic for pets, so best not have them in the home. Particularly with some lilies, even the smallest nibble on a leaf of some species of lilies can lead to death. Poinsettias on the other hand, only cause mild gastrointestinal signs, so having one in the home in a pet-safe area is fine.

Secure/pet-proof the décor: Secure your tree so it doesn’t fall, and ideally find a way to prevent your cat or dog from climbing it. If you have a live tree, do not let your pet drink the water, as it can be hazardous, and do not use any additives in the water just in case, they do manage to sneak a drink. Creative decorating/pet-proofing ideas can be found all over the internet, from trees on the ceiling to only the top half of the tree being decorated to placing a baby gate or even a cage around the tree to keep mischievous pets away.

Pet presents: When giving your pet presents make sure they are safe for your pet. Toys can be a choking hazard if too small or if they have pieces that can be chewed off. Also, check toys that have been played with to be sure they remain safe. Toys including stuffing can be ingested and potentially cause intestinal blockages requiring veterinary care. Check below for foods or ingredients to avoid due to the risk of toxicity.

Decorating presents: If you like to craft (like I do), then make sure to keep your crafting materials away from pets. Dogs will eat anything – including Gorilla Glue, which is also a cause for emergency surgery if even a small amount is ingested. So, clean up before your pet does for you!

Pets do not make good presents: Pets as gifts are generally a bad idea unless you’ve extensively discussed it as an option with the recipient (preferably someone very close to you, like a child, significant other, or immediate family member) and all interested parties have planned for the life changes and the responsibility owning a pet brings. Giving a pet to someone who is not ready, or was not wanting one, means you are giving them a living, breathing – being; dependent on them for food, love, attention, training, safety, and time. That is a big commitment from a present – and an expensive present too! When you factor in the basic upkeep of a pet - food, regular veterinary care, emergencies, travel costs – all over the lifetime of the pet, giving the present of a free pet is not really free at all.

Food, food, glorious food

I wouldn’t be doing a good job talking about holiday safety tips if I didn’t mention food. Since I am a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist^® I spend most of my day talking about food and nutrition in some capacity. The holidays are an excellent time to gather and share wonderful feasts, and our furry family knows it. The sad puppy dog eyes staring up at you from your lap, make it almost impossible not to sneak just a small tidbit under the table. While some foods we typically eat at holiday meals are okay for our pets, there are certainly some foods that should not be offered. If you really want your pet to share in the feasting festivities, prepare a pet appropriate plate for them, and let your guests know that they have had their Thanksgiving meal – so don’t believe those lyin’ eyes! Guests will be less likely to slip extra food if you have warned them ahead of time that your pet has a sensitive stomach or has had pancreatitis in the past. Also, be sure to avoid foods that are not appropriate or toxic to pets.

Alcohol: Whether intentionally offered, or accidentally ingested this is not a happy way for your pet to spend the holidays and can result in an unwanted trip to the emergency hospital, so keep the adult libations to the adult humans. Don’t forget about the foods that may also contain alcohol; Rum balls, tiramisu, stollen loaves of bread and fruitcakes, Bailey’s Irish Cream drizzled on anything.

Chocolate: The holidays are chocolate dipped it seems, as everything has some hint of the delicious treat. But dogs and cats should not have chocolate, and while the toxicity depends on the type of chocolate, the size of your pet, and how much they ate, if they got into some it’s best to call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline to see what steps should be taken for your pet.

Grapes and raisins: Found in stuffing, loaves of bread, baked goods, and appetizers too, grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage, so avoid giving these to your pets. Remember raisins may also be in fruitcakes, stollen bread, or chocolate-covered, which means your pet could actually have two problematic toxicities (raisins and alcohol or chocolate).

High salt foods: High salt foods such as gravies and finger foods are full of salt, which can really increase the tastiness but can also cause problems for some pets with health conditions like heart or kidney disease. Gravy can also be higher in fat and may predispose some fat-sensitive dogs to pancreatitis or gastrointestinal upset.

Onions, leeks, chives, and garlic: While very small amounts may be tolerated by pets, the amount is very animal dependent, and when given in excess can lead to hemolytic anemia (red blood cells get broken down in the blood). It’s best just to avoid feeding any of these items to your pet.

Marijuana butter and similar edibles: Chocolate and marijuana is a double whammy for the toxic lottery, so be sure to celebrate appropriately, tell your wild Uncle to keep his stash safe, and not to include your pets.

Sweets and baked goods with xylitol: The quest for sweets without calories has led to xylitol being used to sweeten foods we eat regularly. Xylitol can be found in baked goods, gums, medications, vitamins, toothpaste, mints, and even peanut butter. If you are unsure, check the label, ask the chef, or just don’t share with your pet as xylitol toxicity can cause low blood sugar and lead to liver damage.

Turkey skin, bones, fat, and fried foods: Feeding leftovers so they don’t go to waste can lead to problems. High-fat meals can increase the risk of pancreatitis, and bones can fracture and shard causing tooth fractures, or worse causing perforations when ingested (think of a toothpick going down a tube, if it gets turned the wrong way holes are coming out of the gut). Bones also can run the risk of not passing at all and leading to an obstruction, which also means a trip to the hospital. If you must feed some turkey, a small amount of cooked breast meat is best.

Take out the garbage: The wonderful smells coming from the garbage are too much for most counter-surfing dogs to resist. Moldy items in the garbage are also toxic and can cause gut and neurologic problems. Corn cobs and turkey bones can potentially result in an emergency foreign body surgery. Be sure to put away all leftovers and take the trash out! There is nothing worse after an evening out with family than coming home to the entire trash strewn about your kitchen, and living room, and oh … is there a butter wrapper licked clean in the middle of my bed? Yes, they will take the garbage out for you if you don’t.

Raw foods: Particularly raw meats and unbaked yeast bread dough (raw dough). Risks include bacterial risk (raw meats) and eating raw dough can risk swelling inside the pet, known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) which is an emergency.

ASPCA Poison Control Hotline – 1-888-426-4435

My father has called this hotline on more than one occasion because Stella got into – insert food here – basically Stella got into most everything. My dad has always had glowing comments about his interactions with the Poison Control Staff. Knowledgeable veterinarians and toxicologists helped get Stella through many of her dietary indiscretions – as well as countless other pet parents out there. If you are concerned about your pet getting into something- then call.

Consideration

Well, if you made it this far, then you are well on your way to planning a safe holiday season for your pet. Taking a few extra moments now to plan for your pet’s holidays can help you have an enjoyable and healthy season. If the unexpected arises, and you do end up having a pet emergency, please be considerate. The veterinary hospital or emergency clinic staff are there to help you, and they are caring humans deserving of decent communication. They did not get your pet into an emergency situation, but they would like to help you deal with it. While you may be frustrated at long wait times, or higher cost or simply the fact that you are stuck in the hospital with your pet while celebrations go on outside – the staff are also there – missing their families and friends to help your pet get through this unfortunate emergency during the holidays. Take the holiday spirit of kindness, consideration, and compassion and show it to the wonderful people that work over the holidays – so that if you need them, they are there.

I hope this guide has been helpful and can be used as a tool in helping you prepare for safe holidays. Please contact your veterinarian and book an appointment to ask any questions about travel that you have upcoming or any other concerns you may have.

 

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About the Author

Dr. Sarah Wilson is a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and formerly served as Director of Veterinary Nutrition within Nutrition Services at BSM Partners. She has practiced clinical veterinary medicine as well as specialized in veterinary nutrition. In both a clinical setting for individual patients, and as a consultant for the pet food industry, providing appropriate nutritional advice on a small scale (single patient) or on a large scale (industry) allows Dr. Wilson to talk about her favorite things all day long: food and pets!