Festive plants, toxic to pets.

A lot of families decorate their homes with the most beautiful plants at Christmas time not realising that the plants we associate with Christmas are poisonous to pets. It is still ok to have these around the house, but we all must be mindful where we place them so they are out of reach from our nosey little fur-friends, we do not want them getting hurt or poorly, do we?

Poinsettias reach full bloom in December and their red petals are actually leaves, they are originally from Mexico and they are mildly toxic to pets. If they are eaten in large quantities it can cause drooling, oral pain, and vomiting.

Mistletoe is known for being the plant of love. Adults hang it up high and according to custom, if you are caught standing under the mistletoe, you may get a kiss. This plant is a vicious parasite, this means it lives on trees and sucks nutrients from it and that is how it keeps its green colour. It is highly toxic to pets and, if eaten, can cause diarrhoea, shortness of breath, sickness and shock. It can be really fatal.

Even though holly has spikey leaves it will not stop pets being inquisitive. The berries are an important winter food source for birds but they are toxic to pets and humans. Several varieties include saponins (this forms soapy lathers when mixed and shaken with water) which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten, they will also drool and shake their head a lot.

Hedera Helix is the Latin name for Ivy. If your pets eat it, it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling. If your dog eats a lot and is very poorly you could see blood when they are sick and blood in their poop, this is the time to call or visit the vet straight away.

REMEMBER: Keep them out of your pet’s reach or your you could use artificial plants to decorate your home.

Festive gifts and decorations.

• Decorations can cause serious risks to our pets. You must be very careful with fairy lights, tinsel and baubles which can easily be chewed or swallowed and cause serious problems. Pets are nosey and will sniff our presents and gifts, they love small toys, soft toys and anything nice and chewy. Contact your vet for advice straight away if your pet has eaten anything that would make them poorly.

Festive foods, toxic to pets.

Lots of our festive treats are toxic to our pets, and you may be tempted to sneak a bit of food to them, however, it is best if you do not do this, your pet could become very poorly and you would not want that, would you? Below are a few foods that should not be given to your best fur friends.

Onions, garlic and chives, whether they are dry, raw or cooked cause gastrointestinal irritation, which means the lining of your pets stomach becomes really sore and painful.

Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, this can cause kidney failure, this means that the kidneys stop working and your pet will get very poorly.

Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect your pets muscles and nervous system, your pet will show weakness, swollen limbs and panting. Your pet will feel very scared.

Corn on the cob. The corn (little yellow bits) are fine, as they can be digested, it is the cob that can be fatal if eaten by your pet. The cob can cause a blockage in the intestine of your pet. That will be very painful.

Avocados can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in your pet as the plants contain a substance called Persin which is in its leaves, fruit and seed.

Alcohol causes intoxication (Drunkenness, Tipsiness) in humans. Even the smallest amount can have the same affect in your pets. It can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and even central nervous system damage. So, it is best to keep yourself and your best fur friend away from alcohol.

Raw uncooked bones for dogs to chew on is great, but definitely not cooked bones. These can easily splinter (small pieces broken off) and if they have a lot it can cause constipation or at worst, a perforation (puncture or stab) of the gut which can be fatal.

Raisins are in many of the foods that we love to eat. Can you think of foods that you like with them in? I can think of mince pies, Christmas pudding, cakes, biscuits and breakfast cereals. The active ingredient which causes toxins in our pets is unknown, but both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure. If you drop any on the floor then you must pick it up straight away and put it in the bin.

If your pets have eaten any of these, even in the smallest amount, you must act immediately and either call or take them to the vets.

Hazards at Winter.

There are a lot of items we use in winter that can be harmful to our pets, so we must be mindful and make sure our pets are safe!

Antifreeze and de-icer. These are used to stop cars icing up, have you noticed people spraying their windows and all the ice melts? it disappears like magic! well, this product has an ingredient in it called ETHYLENE GLYCOL, this is very poisonous to animals, but because it has a sweet smell and taste that can make your cat and dog want to lick it, you must clean up any spills and wash your pet’s paws when you come back from a walk.

Grit & Salt. Have you noticed when you go to school in the morning that there are bits of grit and salt on the path and roads? well, while you were sleeping a big truck drove around and sprayed it everywhere. It makes the surface hard, abrasive (rough) and gritty, this helps you NOT to slip and fall. When you take your dog for their daily walk they can get the grit and salt in their paws which can be very sore, it can cause dryness, cracking and even burns to their pads, so you must wash and dry their paws when you get home.

Remember, they do not wear shoes like us, so it would be best if you pay a bit more attention to your pet’s paws during winter, and if you do that then your best fur friend will enjoy their walk, just like you!

Cats will try and find shelter from the cold and wet weather, they usually hide under cars and sometimes they will find a warm spot which is normally the engine or wheel arches and they get snuggled down and fall asleep.

So next time you go out with your family please take the time to check, have a little look at all the wheels and bang on the bonnet of the car, that will surely wake the sleepy cat and then it will hopefully run all the way home.

We all love playing in the snow! snowball fights and sledging and not forgetting building a snowman, that’s the best! Some dogs love the snow, my Dutchess does but her fur is very long and the snow collects around her legs and it makes it difficult for her to walk and becomes very painful. If the ice ball is left on her fur to long it can cause burns to her skin, you can not pull them off as it then pulls her fur and that is very painful, the ice balls have to melt off. I make sure the fur on her legs is trimmed short.

You can buy coats that cover the dog completely and then they will be able to run and jump and slide just like you! that would be great fun for you all.

Keeping your pets warm in winter.

A lot of people think that because animals have fur they do not get cold, this is not true, animals can and do get cold. If you have pets it is important they stay warm as the temperatures start to drop.

If you think your dog is cold, then you should move their bed to a warmer part of the house, make sure they have nice thick blankets to keep them feeling warm and cosy during the coldest days and best of all you can give them extra snuggles and hugs, they would like that the best!

When you go outside in the cold what do you wear to keep warm? I am guessing; a hat, scarf, gloves and a nice warm coat! Snap! I wear the same things. Some dogs have big thick fur that can keep them warm, but some have fine thin fur and those dogs get cold, buying a coat for your dog would be wonderful, they will enjoy their walk and be nice and warm, just like you!

Some cats like to go outside in the cold, so it is best if you make sure they have a warm dry spot to rest while they are outside. A lot of cat owners have a cat flap in the door, the cat can come in and out whenever they want. Some other cats prefer to stay in the warmth as much as possible, but they may get bored or inactive so you must make sure you play with them, it will help them stay healthy, you will have so much fun and your cat will be happy.

Would you be an inside cat or outside cat? I would be an inside cat all snuggled up nice and warm and probably being very lazy!

Do you have small pets that normally live outside? they would benefit from being bought inside, this could be in a car-free garage, shed, conservatory or porch. If you cannot bring them in, then you must make sure their hutches are in an area so the rain, wind and snow can not get in, you could use a weatherproof material that can cover their house, do not forget to give them extra bedding to snuggle down and make sure you wrap their drinking water bottles with a warm material so it does not freeze.

We must not forget about the small indoor pets, they would need an extra bit of warmth on really cold days, it would be best to move them away from drafts, and you could give them extra bedding to snuggle and keep warm.

REMEMBER: DO NOT put any of your pets near radiators or a fire, they could overheat and be very poorly.