The holiday season, with its added decorations, foods and presents, invites a world of wonder for our curious pets – and mischief.
With that in mind, Trupanion, a leader in medical insurance for pets, scanned its database of more than 10 million veterinary invoices received over the last 20 years and uncovered some pet health insights that underscore the importance of being attentive to furry and feathered friends during festivities.
Here are five tips from Sarah Nold, D.V.M., veterinarian and Trupanion team member, to help protect your pet during the holidays:
1. Monitor decorations: Ensure that ornaments, tinsel and candles, although visually appealing, are out of your pet’s reach to prevent unintended ingestion or other dangers.
2. Avoid offering bones: While they might seem like a fitting treat, bones can pose serious choking hazards and cause internal injuries to pets.
3. Exercise caution with festive foods: Grapes and raisins, though seemingly harmless, are poisonous to pets and have caused significant distress. Trupanion has processed more than 15,550 invoices due to grape or raisin ingestion in the past 10 years, with one invoice amounting to $10,840. Equally perilous is chocolate, which is toxic to felines and canines. Over the same period, Trupanion has assisted more than 8,908 pets who consumed chocolate, with one invoice amounting to $9,300.
4. Ensure waste management: Make certain that trash is secure and inaccessible to pets to avoid any consumption of harmful substances.
5. Provide a safe environment: With the influx of guests and heightened activity, pets can feel overwhelmed. It’s essential to allocate a serene and secure spot for them to retreat.
Julie Buzby, D.V.M., an integrative veterinarian and founder of ToeGrips for dogs, added that in addition to bones, dogs should be kept away from unbaked bread dough, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole and rich desserts.
The following are safe for dogs, she said:
- Cooked, unseasoned turkey;
2. Small quantities of fresh cranberry sauce (free from any sweeteners or spices);
3. Plain, cooked green beans;
4. Plain, cooked sweet potatoes (mashed or dehydrated slices);
5. Cooked or canned pumpkin (free from any sweeteners or spices).
