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Most of us know all this stuff already....but sometimes it's easy to forget when we get busy, and the house is full of family and guests.

Lots of things are dangerous for pets at this time of year. So it's always a good thing to be reminded of the checklist.

Dangerous things.....

Christmas tree decorations and tinsel etc:
Both dogs and cats can get into trouble with these. They are attractive and the animals might play with them. Very few baubles are made of glass nowadays but there still might be some about. Chewing on plastic is no good either. Some people hang chocolates from the tree. That is asking for trouble if pets are around. Electric light cables might look interesting to chew, with severe consequences!

Mince pies, Christmas cakes, plum puddings, foods with raisins in:
Cats probably won't be interested but dogs would eat these things. These foods are dangerous for dogs to eat, and can result in kidney failure. Brandy butter is also bad. Alcohol and fat could make a dog very sick. Cream can do the same. Dogs -and cats -are lactose intolerant and cream can make them very unwell. Even if a cat loves cream, which they all do, do it a favour and buy it some "Cat Milk" for Christmas instead.

Fatty meat, Pork and Turkey trimmings, all fat from roast meats:
These are dangerous. Dogs can get acute pancreatitis. That can result in a vet emergency over the holiday (which no-one wants....including the expense!) Eating these things can and does result in death for some dogs. I know someone personally whose dog died only the next day after eating fat trimmings at a Hog Roast party. Nothing the vet could do could save that dog.

Chocolates:
We all know about. Most of us won't give our dogs chocolate as it is very toxic. But when little plates of treats are put out for guests, it's best to make sure the dog can NOT reach them.

The most dangerous chocolate for dogs is baking chocolate. That goes onto chocolate cakes. It's wise to remember. The next most dangerous is dark or bitter chocolate. Milk chocolate is still dangerous but not as much. But large quantities can result in serious poisoning. At best there will be vomiting and diarrhea (who wants that on their carpet at a party?) The worst-case scenario is death.


Garbage:
Tinfoil from roast meats get into the garbage. So do bones. Bones (unless they are raw and too large to splinter) should never ever be given to dogs. The splinters can tear their throats and guts. They can cause dreadful blockages internally. Imagine a belly full of bits of tinfoil!....That would be emergency surgery with no guarantee of a happy outcome. Especially if that stuff worked its way down the digestive tract.
Other unsuitable things for dogs to chew get into the garbage too. Wrapping paper, string, streamers, etc from present wrappings.
Garbage cans should be kept secure, and impossible for dogs to raid. Or locked in a cupboard under the sink or something.

Some Human food is okay to give to dogs but it depends what.  A little lean meat cut from the roast, with no fat or skin is fine. A sausage or two is fine. Potatoes are fine. A little bit of gravy, and vegetables like carrots, brussels sprouts, green beans etc are fine. Cats will like a little roast meat chopped up small maybe with a little gravy. They don't need, nor are usually interested in potatoes or vegetables, but it won't harm them to have some of that.NO ONIONS OR GARLIC! or anything cooked with them.

Have a Happy safe Christmas, all dogs and cats out there!
Good reminders. I knew most of the list, but not all. I hadn't realized how dangerous fat can be for dogs.

There are so many things that are dangerous. We all need to stop and think about what we eat and how we decorate. I am sure we can get through the holidays safely with just a few precautions.
Very timely, Tobi! A couple of years ago, my mother's cat climbed up the Christmas tree and brought it down! Luckily the tree wasn't too tall so no harm was done - to cat or tree!
Haha, LPC! Poor cat! He must have been shocked when the tree collapsed around him. Luckily, cats are pretty nimble on their feet and he must have leaped out of the way in time.

The problem with cats is they get up onto things and into places that dogs don't.

Yes Catherine, fat can be dangerous for dogs. Some dogs are more susceptible to acute pancreatitis than others but it's a gamble. The safest thing is to make sure a dog doesn't get into any fat trimmings from any meat. And yes they can die from pancreatitis, even if they seemed fit and well before. It is also an extremely painful condition.
Quote:Yes Catherine, fat can be dangerous for dogs. Some dogs are more susceptible to acute pancreatitis than others but it's a gamble. The safest thing is to make sure a dog doesn't get into any fat trimmings from any meat. And yes they can die from pancreatitis, even if they seemed fit and well before. It is also an extremely painful condition.
I didn't know about this. It does explain the health issues of some dogs I have known. I will watch for the problem in future. I am sure many people don't know about this.

Cats and Christmas trees are a classic problem. We took in a stray one Christmas and he brought the tree down. Sadly many very old ornaments were lost.

When I took my tree down one year I found my long tailed  grass lizard on it. I didn't even know she was out. I don't know how she got out. She was always getting out. I was sitting talking on the phone and she dropped off the curtains onto my head.
Sometimes lizards are a bit like living with a very small cat. Smiley4