Whether you’ll be at home curled up on the couch with a movie, hosting a get-together, or going out, it’s important to take a few extra precautions to keep your pets safe this New Year’s Eve. After all, no one wants to ring in thenew yearwith a sick pet.Joinus as wecountdown the ten most common New Year’s Eve pet dangers!
10. Balloons
Pop!That’sa sound no pet parent wants to hear. A piece of popped balloon can whip into your pet’seyes and cause damage. Ifswallowed, balloon piecescan become a choking hazard or can cause an intestinal obstruction.Justerr on thesafesideand skip the balloonswhen decorating in a pet-friendly area of your home!
9. Tinsel and Confetti Poppers
As the clock strikes midnight, DO NOTuseany confetti poppers thatcontainstring, tinsel, garland, or pieces of plasticnearyour pets. Also,skip the tinsel,especiallyif you have a cat! Tinsel, as well as other string-like items,can get stuckbeneathyour cat’stongue or in the stomach – another potential cause for an intestinal obstruction.
8. Loud Noises
If your cityhas aNew Year’s Eve fireworksdisplay,or ifyou’rehosting aget-together that may get loud at midnight, preparea safe havenfor your pet– especially if your pet hasnoise anxiety.To prevent pets from bolting out of the house, keepthem in a closed-off room (or crate if trained)withmusic, white noise,or the TV on to help reducethe impact of morescarynoises.You may also want to consider talking to your family veterinarian about medications, sprays, and training tips that may help reduce your pet’s anxiety.
7. Trash
Petswho get into the trash are more likely to eat toxic or hazardous foods, suffer exposuretotremorgenicmycotoxins from moldy foods, or experiencepancreatitis.So,ifyou’rehosting a get-together, keep the trash secured and promptly cleanup any messes! Also,it’sa good ideato take the trash out before heading to bed!
6. Fatty/Salty Foods
If you plan to serve snacks, keep them away from your pet!Salty,fatty, and sugaryfoods like butter, desserts, chips, popcorn, etc.,can cause your pet to beextremely sickand may causepancreatitis.If you are having company over, remind all your guests not to feed your pets without your permission.
5. Grapes, Raisins, & Zante Currants
Anything thatcontainsgrapes, raisins, orZante currants(likefruitcake,breads, trail mix, andsomesalads)can cause kidney damage.If you choose to serve these foods, keep pets out of the food area, especially if snacksmay beunattended!
4. Caffeine Products
Trying to stay awake ‘til midnight with coffee and energy drinks?While one or twosmall licksare unlikely to cause harm,a large amount of caffeine can cause increased blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias in pets. Thiscan lead to tremors or seizures. Common sources of caffeine toxicity include coffee beans, teas, energy drinks, diet pills, etc.).Keep these items out of yourpets’reach.Forcoffee drinkers, we suggest using sealed containers to storegrounds or beans!
3. Chocolate
Chocolatecauses gastrointestinal upset, as well as cardiacandneurological side effects. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is.Cocoa powder and Baker’s chocolate are alsohighlydangerous.Determined petstypicallyfind a way to get into desserts and chocolates placed on the counter or table, so we recommend keeping these goodies in the refrigerator or an upper cupboard!
2.Xylitol
Freshening up your breath for that midnight kiss? Careful where you place your gum or mints! These products, as well as oral hygiene products, makeup and skincare products, baby wipes, condiments, peanut butter, and many sugar-free foods like candies, desserts, and baked goodscontainxylitol. This sugarless sweeteneris highly toxic to pets and can cause low blood sugar levels, as well as liver damage and failure.Notethat xylitol is alsobeing labeled as“birch sugar”and“wood sugar,”so always read ingredient labels carefully!
1. Alcohol Toxicity
When consumed by pets, alcoholic beverages and alcohol-soakedfoodscausedropsin blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Toxicity levels vary based on the type of alcohol and the amount consumed. Never leave drinks oralcoholic foods unattended with your petpresent andclean up spillspromptly.Another common cause of alcohol toxicity in pets isyeast dough.Keeppets out of the kitchen if you’remaking homemade bread, cinnamon rolls,buns,etc. for the holiday!
We hope you and your pets have a safe New Year’s Eve, as well as a safe year ahead! Over the holidays and throughout the year,make sure to havecontact information for yourfamily veterinarian,ASPCA Animal Poison Control, and your local animal emergency hospital saved in your phone so you can quicklyreacha veterinary professionalif yourequirehelpinassessingyour pet’s status.
