Urgent warning to pet owners over common Christmas item that can cause ‘serious problems’ for animals
PET owners are being warned to be extra careful at Christmas as there is one common festive item that could cause your pet “serious problems”.
The PDSA, the veterinary charity for pets in need, issued a warning urging pet owners to be careful over the festive period as they enjoy more time indoors with their pets and their family.
As many look forward to getting together and swapping gifts over Christmas, Nina Downing, veterinary nurse at the PDSA, issued a warning for people with pets.
Nina is urging people to be aware of the dangers of wrapping paper and other products used to wrap and prepare presents intended for loved ones.
The veterinary nurse is warning pet owners to stay alert and watch out for things like sticky tape, bows, ribbons and string, as well as wrapping paper itself, which can all represent a choking hazard to our four-legged friends.
She told the Liverpool Echo: “Sticky tape, bows, ribbons, and string can be a choking hazard and cause internal blockages if swallowed by our precious pets.
“Take care to pick up any leftover wrapping or toy batteries and watch out for the beady eyes of soft toys, as these can cause serious problems for our pets if chewed up and swallowed.”
And that is not the only hazard that can present itself, baubles, Christmas lights and tinsel are also “tantalisingly tempting” to pets, according to Nina.
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She is advising pet owners to be wary of pets getting hold of these items incase they smash any glass and cut themselves, or even bite through the fairy light wires and give themselves an electric shock
Nina also urged pet owners to be vigilant of food left within reach of their pets.
Some common Christmas foods that we might find delicious can be highly toxic to pets, such as onions, garlic and even mince pies, which include raisins – known to cause acute kidney injury in dogs, which could lead to death.
She said: “Not only can a sudden change in diet cause an upset stomach, some parts of our festive feast can also be highly toxic to pets, including onions, garlic, and mince pies.
“It’s also important to bear in mind potion sizes – a small dog breed, such as a Border Terrier, eating 4 pigs in blankets is the equivalent of a human eating an entire Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.”