Pet owners have been warned over one common Christmas item that can cause "serious problems" for pets.
The PDSA, the veterinary charity for pets in need, issued the warning ahead of the festive period and urged pet owners to be careful as they spend more time with their pets and their family. Nina Downing, veterinary nurse at the the PDSA, warned people about the dangers of wrapping paper and other products used to wrap and prepare presents intended for loved ones.
Nina urged pet owners to 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 beloved pets. She said: "Sticky tape, bows, ribbons, and string can be a choking hazard and cause internal blockages if swallowed by our precious pets.
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"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."
Baubles, Christmas lights and tinsel are also "tantalisingly tempting" to pets, according to Nina, and pet owners should be weary of their pets getting a hold of these items in case 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 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."
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