November 2025- Keep Calm and Party On!

Planning a holiday get-together? Some pets are extremely social and love the extra attention new people bring. But some dogs, and most cats, can get stressed and anxious when holiday activities mean new people, sights and smells. And then there’s the temptation to toss yummy table scraps to your pet. While it sounds like a treat, there can be serious medical problems if your pet eats something toxic

Here are some tips to consider for keeping your pet safe over the holidays.

• Put your pet in another room with toys and a bed if people are visiting to reduce stress on your dog—and especially your cat.
• Take your dog for a walk, run or some other energy-burning exercise before a get together. A tired dog has a much greater chance of being a calm dog.
• Never give bones to your pet. Bones are a choking hazard, whether they are from turkey, chicken, ribs, pork or fish. Plus, they can cause serious internal damage if swallowed.
• Making stuffing? If yours contains raisins, onion, garlic, nutmeg, nuts, butter or mushrooms, it’s a no-no for fido – and felines, too.
• Careful with the trimmings! Turkey skin, gravy and drippings are all high in fat and can cause pancreatitis in pets.
• Chocolate—especially dark and baking chocolate—can be toxic to pets. Plus, it should be paws off for other sweets too, such as candied yams and cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies and candy.
• Sugar substitutes are just as bad. The artificial sweetener xylitol (found in some peanut butters and sugarless gum) is toxic enough to kill when eaten by dogs.
• Easy on milk-based products, like ice cream. They can lead to gastrointestinal tract issues and allergic reactions
  

If you suspect your pet has ingested something harmful, contact us immediately at (310) 545-6596 or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.