Despite ‘dogged’ determination from pet specialists to encourage owners to avoid ‘catastrophes’ stuff can still happen.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance has joined with Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa to promote pet safety at home.

Dr Rosemary Price from VSA said, “It’s the season for joy, laughter, and... a whole lot of alterations to routine and strange people invading your home. While you’re enjoying fun and festive cheer celebrating with friends and family, your pets might be wondering, "Why is everyone home all the time, and who are all these strangers touching my stuff?"” 

Some of the main things for thoughtful owners to consider over the festive period include:

·         Strange guests and altered routines can equal stress for your pet. Consider giving your furry friend a quiet space to retreat from Aunt Linda’s enthusiastic hugs and your much-loved nephew who hasn’t yet learned that cats are not living toys. 

·         Food is dangerous. That loving and well intentioned, “I’ll just slip them a little holiday ham” can easily result in a trip to the emergency veterinarian, at the most expensive time of year, with a raging bout of pancreatitis. Even the hardiest of dogs can’t handle too much rich food.

Fatty foods, chocolate, onions, fruit cake (raisins and currants), avocados, stone fruit pits are all things that might be a bit more available than normal at this time of year.  It’s Paws Off for Loki and Charlie, unless you want to spend time in a vet emergency waiting room with your furry friend. SCPI paid out more than $120,000 in claims for chocolate consumption by dogs and more than $213,000 for bones, across a 12-month period!

• Decorations —Yes, those shiny things on the tree are a magnet for paws and snouts. Tinsel and ornaments are tempting chew toys. Avoid expensive surgical interventions by securing your tree well, keeping decorations up high and everyone well supervised. 

Labrador retrievers end up quite regularly at the vets for consuming all sorts of stuff. Like Geordie, a pet insured by SCPI, who this year ate a spool of cotton with a needle tucked into it. During treatment, the vet also found a piece of a plastic wrapper, a piece of an orange, a grass seed, an ice cream wrapper, some carrot, a large piece of glad wrap and a piece of wood. The claim? $4,871!

And a word to the wise on toys. Magnets are just as dangerous for dogs as they are for small humans. Monty the dog, another pet insured by Southern Cross, swallowed a handful of small magnets. When stuck together these can cause tissue necrosis between the bowel loops. The surgery and other treatment for Monty resulted in a claim for $8,703.

And one last thing on decorations, Christmas lilies, which are super popular to dress your home, can be super toxic for cats!

• Fireworks – Just don’t. Every year there are dozens of stories of pets being traumatised by fireworks, which seem to linger longer every year following November 5. Better to spend your time stargazing with your pets and your loved ones and welcoming the New Year in, in peace.

Survive and thrive over the holiday season! Southern Cross Pet Insurance and the VSA wish you and your pets the very best.