Nov 14 min read

Fall Holiday Dangers for Pets

By: Natalie Pons, Office Manager at Pawsitivity Pet Services

October is often the start to an exciting time for us humans - holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are a great time to celebrate, eat, and spend time with family and friends! With all the excitement, we have to keep in mind some dangers for our pets that are more prevalent during this time.

In this blog we will discuss fall holiday dangers to keep in mind in order to keep your pets safe this fall.

Holiday Hazards

Spooky movies, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, changing leaves… There is so much to love about the fall for us humans! However, with added fun for us and potential changes in our daily routines, we must keep in mind how that affects our pet(s). Here we will discuss a couple of dangers to keep in mind to protect your pet this fall.

Xylitol

According to the Humane Society of Loudoun County, “xylitol, a common artificial sweetener, is highly toxic to dogs”. This artificial sweetener can be found in candies typically consumed during holidays such as Halloween.

So, what happens if your pet ingests xylitol? For dogs, ingestion of xylitol “causes severe low blood sugar, even in small doses. Higher doses can cause acute liver failure” (Humane Society of Loudoun County). If your dog has ingested xylitol or is suspected to have ingested it, you should seek medical attention from a veterinarian immediately. Although more research is needed, cats should be kept away from interesting xylitol as well.

To best protect your pet, keep holiday candy securely in a place where they cannot get to and watch them closely if you are enjoying your candy around them.

Stranger Anxiety

Has your dog ever barked when someone is at the door? Has your cat darted away at the sound of company arriving? Chances are, they have! If you host for holidays, it may be a stressful time for your pet(s).

To alleviate the stress, try setting up your pet in a designated area of your home where they won’t hear as much of the noise. Putting on calming music or “pet tv” may help block out the noise and reduce their stress as well. This could also be a great opportunity to give them a durable toy stuffed with dog-safe peanut butter to keep them busy (see our Enrichment Blogs for more ideas: https://www.pawsitivitypetservices.com/post/enrichment-ideas-to-keep-your-dog-pawsitively-happy-engaged-by)

In addition to separating them from the potential trigger, if you have a dog, it is a great idea to get them out on their walk or play time prior to company arriving. That way, they can be fulfilled, relaxed and potentially less stressed when the company is over.

Fall Foods

Garlic and Onion

Mmm… the smell of garlic and onion cooking on a pan! These foods are often used even more than usual in our Thanksgiving cooking and add a great flavor to our holiday foods. Although delicious to us, garlic and onions can be hazardous to our pets.

According to the Merck Manual - Veterinary Manual, Allium spp. (garlic, onions, chives, and leeks) “are commonly associated with toxicosis” in pets. Both dogs and cats are affected by these species, with cats being the most susceptible. “Toxicosis has been reported in cats after ingesting less than a teaspoon of cooked onions or 5g/kg of raw onions. In dogs, ingestion of 15-30 g/kg of raw onion results in clinical signs” (Merck Manual Veterinary Manual).

It usually takes about 3 days for clinical signs to present themselves and can include symptoms such as: “lethargy, anorexia, tachypnea, tachycardia, weakness, exercise intolerance…collapse and death” (Merck Manual Veterinary Manual).

If your pet is one who dives to the ground when a piece of food falls on the floor, consider blocking off the kitchen during cooking time (if you are using these foods), and allowing them back in once you are done cooking and you’ve ensured the floor does not have anything toxic on it.

If your pet has ingested garlic and/or onion or is suspected of ingesting garlic and/or onion, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Turkey Bones & Skin

Although you may think dogs are meant to chew on bones, be sure to never give your dog cooked bones. According to the Humane Society of Loudoun County, “cooked bones are more brittle than raw and can splinter more easily…when swallowed, sharp fragments can cause damage to the digestive tract”. It may be tempting, especially if your dog is looking at you with puppy eyes, but it’s for their own safety to withhold any cooked turkey bones from them this Thanksgiving!

If you are looking to make the day special for your pet, consider getting them a special treat, made for their respective species, to enjoy while you are enjoying your Thanksgiving meal. If your dog does get into any turkey bones, be sure to contact a veterinarian immediately.