The Christmas/New Year period can be challenging for your pets.  Their home can be filled with all sorts of unusual things, Christmas trees, decorations, new people and lots of strange smells and foods.

We often have lots of treats around the house; chocolate, nuts and cheese - lovely for us but not so much for our pets.  A lot of food we enjoy are actually poisonous for our pets.  Some foods may just cause an upset tummy but some are potentially deadly.

Watch out for foods that contain the following:-

• Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas
• Chocolate
• Peanuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions, garlic, leeks etc
• Xylitol - a sweetener often added to sweets, chewing gum and medicines

You may not give these foods to your pet, they may actually scavenge them from bin bags (at this time we tend to generate a lot of rubbish that does not fit in our wheelie bins) so please be aware of what your pet can access in your garden/yard.

Mouldy food, whether intentionally (blue cheeses) or out of a bin can contain toxins that can cause rapid onset of symptoms which can include convulsions.

Chocolate

The severity of poisoning depends on two things, the amount of chocolate and also the type of chocolate.  The amount of theobromine (the part of chocolate that is poisonous to pets) in milk and dark chocolate differs considerably.

Poisonous Plants

• Holly & Ivy
• Mistletoe
• Poinsettia

Various Items

• Silica Gel - sachets often found in packaging for handbags, shoes etc.
• Christmas decorations - as well as toxicity you need to be aware of items causing choking or obstruction.
• Candles - again can cause obstruction or be a choking hazard.
• Batteries - The severity of poisoning depends of the type of battery ingested.  Most batteries contain either strong acids/alkalis and many have a significant metal content.  Chewing and swallowing a battery may result in local burns and injury to the mouth, throat, oesophagus and stomach.  Unless chewed, many small batteries can pass without any problem BUT complications can arise if the battery becomes stuck and require surgical removal.
• Cannabis - At Christmas & New Year parties some pets may come in to contact with product. 
• Various medicines - When having guests over Christmas, you may have someone on medication who may not be as careful leaving strips of tablets in areas easily accessed by your pet as you perhaps would be.

IF YOU THINK YOUR PET HAS EATEN SOMETHING YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ADVICE.  IT IS HELPFUL IF YOU CAN KEEP ANY PACKAGING RELATING TO THE ITEM YOUR PET HAS EATEN.

The last couple of winters have brought particularly cold and snowy weather.  If it is safe and not too slippy out, it is a good idea to go out with your pet to get some fresh air and exercise but do remember that your pet can get cold too!  Try to reduce the length of time that they spend outside and perhaps get them a cosy little pet jacket.  If it is particularly cold and the roads and pavements have been gritted, check your pet's paws to make sure that they aren't getting sore.  Grit can be extremely irritating, and can even dry the pads out so much they can split and bleed.  If you do go out please don't let your pets on frozen ponds/canals as accidents DO happen.

Caring for Your Rabbit During the Winter Months

The Winter can be very difficult for your pet bunny.  It is important that you ensure that the hutch is warm and dry, perhaps add additional cover of a night to help your bunny keep warm.  Make sure that your rabbit has plenty of hay and access to fresh food and water; you will need to check the water bottles regularly to avoid them freezing.  It may be an idea if possible to move the hutch to a garage or shed during the harsh winter months. 

Garden Birds

Please think about the wildlife that visits your gardens during the winter months.  Birds have very limited food available throughout the winter months and they can use up a lot of their energy foraging for food.  Prolonged cold spells can lead to a high mortality rate in garden birds. 

A bird table stocked with a high calorie seed mix as well as the fat balls that you can buy will be very welcome, but a lot of table scraps will also be appreciated; cooked potato, cake crumbs, grated cheese and soft fruit.  Don't forget fresh water - keep a check that the water available does not freeze.