Dangerous Christmas

It’s that time of year again: the holidays are approaching and homes are being festively decorated. Everywhere sparkles and lights, gifts are wrapped, the Christmas tree is adorned—and there’s piles of chocolate. What for us is a peaceful holiday season can be life-threatening for cats and dogs.

Cats especially love to play with tinsel, gift ribbons, and other decorations. These items can simply be swallowed and lead to a bowel obstruction that typically requires surgery. Symptoms include severe vomiting and lethargy. Diagnosis isn’t always straightforward and, if not noticed in time, can quickly become life-threatening.

The poinsettia plant and chocolate are highly toxic to our pets and can cause kidney failure. Chocolate poisoning shows symptoms rapidly, whereas poinsettia-related illness may take days to appear. Consuming larger amounts often makes treatment difficult and, in the worst case, impossible.

Especially puppies and young pets—but also older cats and dogs that never nibbled before—may suddenly take interest in decorations and swallow them.

Try to eliminate hazardous items from your home. If something is swallowed or your pet ingests something toxic, contact your vet immediately. In some cases, inducing vomiting promptly can resolve the issue completely. In others, it may not be possible—but the earlier you act, the fewer complications there will be.