WASHINGTON — This is the time of year when food and decorations are in endless supply around the house, which are magnets to your pets.
There are things pet owners can do to protect their animals during the holidays from getting caught up in food and decorations that could harm them.
Even when it’s not meal time, food is just about everywhere during the holidays, and pets are at greater risk of consuming food items that might cause digestive issues.
“A lot of the things we eat, anything from alcohol to chocolate, certain nuts; think about the macadamia nuts in our cookies, it can be quite dangerous,” veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson told WTOP.
While it may be tempting to feed an animal something off the dinner plate, Nelson said most pets can’t handle the fat, which can be a shock to their system and give them stomach problems.
“We bring in a lot of pretty thing this time of year: lilies, poinsettias, holly, mistletoe. All of these things, they all can be toxic,” Nelson said.
“Keep them out of reach, and if your pets do become exposed to any of those things, make sure you log on to ASPCA Poison Control hotline, and you can find more information there,” she said.
The animal poison control hotline is 888-426-4435. There may be a $65 charge.
