From Halloween Treats to New Year’s Fireworks: Keeping Dogs and Cats Happy, Healthy, and Safe

The holiday season is a wonderful time to celebrate with family, friends, and, of course, our pets! From Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving feasts to Hanukkah candles, Christmas decorations, and New Year’s festivities, there are so many opportunities to make special memories with our four-legged companions.

But the holidays can also introduce unexpected dangers for dogs and cats. Unfamiliar foods, festive decorations, visitors, and changes in routine can create situations that put pets at risk.

At Norwalk Animal Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, we want every member of your family to enjoy a happy, healthy holiday season. With a little planning and a few simple precautions, you can include your pets in the celebrations while keeping them safe.

Thanksgiving: Sharing Gratitude, Not Dangerous Foods

Thanksgiving is all about family, gratitude, and delicious food. And while your dog may be giving you those irresistible puppy eyes beneath the dinner table, not everything on your holiday menu belongs in your pet’s bowl.

Fortunately, there are several Thanksgiving foods dogs and cats can enjoy in moderation when prepared appropriately.

Even safe foods should be offered in small amounts, particularly if your pet has a sensitive stomach, food allergies, or a medical condition requiring a special diet.

Thanksgiving Foods Pets Should Never Eat

Some traditional holiday favorites can cause serious illness.

• Turkey bones: Cooked bones can splinter, causing choking, intestinal injuries, or blockages.
• Turkey skin, gravy, and fatty scraps: Rich foods can trigger gastrointestinal upset or pancreatitis.
• Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks: These ingredients, including cooked or powdered forms, can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
• Grapes and raisins: Even small amounts can cause acute kidney injury in dogs.
• Chocolate desserts: Chocolate contains substances toxic to pets.
• Alcohol: Even small amounts can be dangerous.
• Bread dough containing yeast: Raw yeast dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol.
• Macadamia nuts: These are toxic to dogs.
• Sugar-free desserts: Some contain xylitol, which is extremely dangerous to dogs.

Our Thanksgiving tips:

• Before guests arrive, prepare a small plate of appropriate pet-safe foods. This allows your furry family member to participate without risking an upset stomach or an emergency veterinary visit.
• Remind visitors not to sneak treats under the table. Well-meaning guests may not realize that certain foods are dangerous for pets.

Hanukkah: Eight Nights of Light, Love, and Pet Safety

Hanukkah brings families together for eight nights of tradition, delicious foods, and the beautiful glow of the menorah. However, candles, cooking oils, and festive foods require extra attention when curious pets are nearby.

Keep Menorahs and Candles Out of Reach

Cats may be especially interested in flickering flames, while enthusiastic dogs can accidentally knock over decorations. Place menorahs on stable surfaces that pets cannot access, and never leave lit candles unattended. Battery-operated candles can be a safer alternative, but keep batteries and small components out of reach.

Be Careful With Traditional Hanukkah Foods

Latkes, sufganiyot, and other holiday favorites are best enjoyed by people. Latkes often contain onions and are fried in oil. Onions are toxic to dogs and cats, while fatty foods can cause digestive problems or pancreatitis.
Jelly-filled doughnuts contain sugar and fat, and some specialty desserts may include chocolate or xylitol.
Keep chocolate gelt away from pets, and remember that foil wrappers can also present a hazard if swallowed.

Watch Small Decorations and Dreidels

Dreidels, coins, ribbons, and small decorations may become tempting toys, particularly for playful kittens and puppies. Choose larger, pet-safe decorations and supervise pets around holiday displays.

Christmas: Deck the Halls With Pet Safety in Mind

Christmas trees, twinkling lights, wrapped gifts, and festive gatherings can make the season magical. They can also create a playground of potential hazards for curious dogs and cats.

Make Your Christmas Tree Pet-Friendly

• Secure your Christmas tree so it cannot tip over if a cat climbs it or a dog bumps into it.
• Avoid placing fragile ornaments, tinsel, ribbons, or edible decorations on lower branches.
• Tinsel and ribbon are particularly dangerous for cats because swallowing them can cause serious intestinal injuries or blockages.
• If you have a live Christmas tree, prevent pets from drinking the tree-stand water. It may contain bacteria, fertilizers, or tree preservatives.

Know Which Holiday Plants Are Dangerous

Not all holiday greenery is pet-friendly.

• Lilies: Extremely dangerous to cats. Certain lilies can cause life-threatening kidney failure, even with very small exposures.
• Mistletoe: Can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and, depending on the species and amount consumed, more serious effects.
• Holly: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and irritation.
• Poinsettias: Generally cause mild mouth or stomach irritation rather than severe poisoning, but should still be kept away from pets.
• If you share your home with cats, consider avoiding true lilies entirely.

Keep Electrical Cords and Decorations Secure

Puppies, kittens, and curious adult pets may chew electrical cords or investigate lighted decorations. Use cord protectors, keep wires out of reach, and unplug decorations when you’re away. Keep button batteries, ornament hooks, gift ribbons, and small toy parts safely stored.

Give Your Pet the Gift of a Peaceful Holiday

Christmas gatherings can be overwhelming for pets who aren’t accustomed to visitors, children, or changes in their daily routine. Create a quiet retreat where your pet can relax away from the festivities. Include familiar bedding, toys, and access to water. And remember, the best holiday gift for many pets isn’t an elaborate present. It’s extra attention, a favorite walk, or a little uninterrupted time with their favorite person.

New Year’s Eve: Celebrate Without the Stress

New Year’s Eve may be exciting for people, but fireworks, loud music, party horns, and large gatherings can be frightening for dogs and cats. Even pets who are usually confident may become anxious when exposed to sudden, unfamiliar noises.

Help Pets Feel Secure During Fireworks

If fireworks are expected in your neighborhood, bring pets indoors well before celebrations begin.
Close windows and curtains to reduce noise and flashes of light. Soft music, television, or white noise may help mask outdoor sounds.
Provide a comfortable hiding place and allow your pet to retreat if they choose.
Never force a frightened pet to interact with guests or come out of hiding.
For pets with significant noise anxiety, contact your veterinarian at Norwalk Animal Hospital before the holiday. We have behavioral strategies or prescription medications that can help.
Prevent Accidental Escapes
New Year’s celebrations often involve guests coming and going. Make sure doors and gates remain secure, and remind visitors to watch for pets near entrances. Keep your pet’s identification tags and microchip information updated; we can scan your pet at Norwalk Animal Hospital to be sure the information in the chip database is correct.
Watch the Party Food and Drinks
Alcoholic beverages, chocolate, grapes, raisins, rich appetizers, and discarded food can be hazardous to pets. Keep drinks and snacks out of reach, and promptly dispose of leftovers.
Start the New Year With Healthy Habits
The beginning of a new year is also a wonderful opportunity to focus on your pet’s health.
Consider making a few pet-friendly resolutions: schedule a wellness examination, review your pet’s nutrition, maintain a healthy weight, establish a consistent dental-care routine, and make time for regular exercise and enrichment.
When to Contact Your Veterinarian During the Holidays
Holiday emergencies can happen despite our best efforts.
Contact Norwalk Animal Hospital promptly if your pet experiences:
Repeated vomiting, severe diarrhea, unusual lethargy, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, tremors, seizures, or suspected ingestion of a toxic substance.
Do not wait for symptoms to develop if you believe your pet has eaten something poisonous. Some toxins can cause serious internal damage before obvious signs appear.
Never induce vomiting or give home remedies unless directed by a veterinary professional.
For suspected poisoning, you can also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Consultation fees may apply.