Our pets explore the world with their mouths. This, combined with all the changes to their environment that happen during the holiday season, can lead to accidents.

To keep your pet safe during the holiday season, remember…

Pine Needles are toxic, and can cut up the inside of your pet’s mouth and stomach. Luckily, they most commonly cause an upset stomach. To avoid this, vacuum or sweep up often.

Tinsel is shiny and pretty, which can make curious pets want to take a nibble. This is bad news because tinsel can get stuck in their stomachs or intestines, causing life-threatening blockages. Try using pet-friendly tinsel alternatives instead, and keep tinsel out of reach.

Glass baubles can easily break when knocked over. Pets pounce on decorations, and if they are made of glass, they can break and hurt them. If you’re very unlucky, your pet may try to eat one, which is a life-threatening emergency. Try using plastic alternatives, especially if you have young animals.

Salt dough ornaments can be mistaken for cookies or treats, but contain toxic concentrations of salt and can cause seizures in pets. Keep salt dough ornaments well out of reach, or opt for alternatives.

Fairy lights are shiny, and the loose wires make for attractive chewing material. Unfortunately, this can cause your pets to get electrical shocks! Tape loose wires to the floor, and use safety extension cords to instantly turn the lights off when damage is detected.

Decorated trees are heavy, and can be dangerous when knocked down. Cats and dogs both love knocking things over. Ensure your Christmas tree has a heavy base, and that it is unlikely to topple over.

Yes, some of our favorite Christmas treats can be toxic to pets. Here are some foods you should never feed your pets:

Christmas pudding and mince pies – Grapes and raisins are extremely dangerous to dogs – even small amounts can be fatal. Keep them out of your dog’s reach, and be careful when disposing of leftovers: leave them in the outside bin right away!

Macadamia nuts – Found in trail mix and baked goods like cookies and muffins, macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Within 12 hours of ingestion, symptoms include weakness, incoordination and overheating.

Alcohol – Clean up spills when they happen, and be careful of where you leave your cups. Alcohol is very dangerous to pets, and even small amounts can lead to vomiting, tremors and difficulty breathing.

Cooked bones – Cooked bones splinter when chewed, causing injuries in the esophagus, stomach and even intestines of your furry friends. Don’t be tempted into throwing them a bone!

Chocolate – It might seem like a sweet treat, but even a small amount can cause diarrhea and vomiting, and a large dose can lead to seizures and even death. Don’t keep chocolate on or under the tree, and keep stockings out of reach!

If you have altered holiday hours over the Christmas period, you can use the assets in this pack to announce the change to your clients. If you use Vetstoria, you can even allow clients to book online directly from your website, or from a QR code printed and displayed on your clinic’s door!

Our Content Pack Calendar has all the marketing assets you need for the rest of the year neatly mapped onto a calendar. It’s been specially designed to help you have the most engaging, productive, and profitable quarter yet for your veterinary clinic. Download 2023 Q4 calendar here!