Winter & Holiday Safety: Keeping Chestermere’s Pets Safe During the Peak of the Season
The holidays are officially here! While most of us are busy enjoying the cozy blankets and festive lights, this time of year brings some pretty specific risks for our four-legged family members—especially with the “deep freeze” we’re seeing outside.
With Christmas just a few days away, things can get a little chaotic. To help you keep the “happy” in your holidays, we’ve put together a few reminders to help you navigate the next week safely.
🛑 Quick Check: Cold Weather Warning Signs
Because temperatures have dropped so rapidly, hypothermia and frostbite can set in much more quickly than people realize. It’s important to keep a close eye on your pet when they’re outside. If they start showing any of these signs, get them indoors immediately and give us a call:
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Shivering or whining that doesn’t stop
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Looking anxious or unusually weak
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Moving slowly or just stopping in their tracks
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Trying to burrow into snow or under bushes for warmth
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Skin that looks pale or grey (Just a heads up: frostbite can take a few days to fully show up, so keep checking those ears and paws!)
❄️ The Deep Freeze: It’s More Than Just a Chill
There’s an old myth that a fur coat makes a pet “winter-proof,” but that’s just not the case. Our local cats and dogs feel the Alberta elements just as much as we do.
First off, know your pet’s limits. Not every dog is a Husky (and even their paws have limits)! Short-haired pups, seniors, and pets with health issues like heart or kidney disease struggle more to stay warm. Also, if you’re out finishing your last-minute gift shopping, please don’t leave your pet in the car. We call it the “Refrigerator Effect”—on a day like today, your car turns into a freezer in minutes.
When you do head out for a walk, remember to protect those paws. The salt and ice melt on our sidewalks can actually burn their pads. A quick wipe-down of their feet and belly when you get home goes a long way in preventing irritation (and keeps them from licking off those toxic chemicals). If you’re buying salt for your own driveway, look for the “pet-safe” labels—your neighbors’ dogs will thank you!
Oh, and one last winter tip: check your car hood. Farm cats and neighborhood strays love a warm engine. Give the hood a good knock or honk your horn before you start the car to give them a chance to scramble out.
🍽️ Holiday Feasting: Watch the Table!
Dinner is the best part of the holidays, but a lot of our favorite foods are actually dangerous for pets. It’s hard to say no to those begging eyes, but make sure your guests know the rules too!
Keep an eye out for Chocolate and Xylitol. Gift baskets are often left on low tables, but dark chocolate and sugar-free treats (containing Xylitol) are highly toxic. Then there are the rich table scraps. Things like turkey skin, gravy, and fat can cause pancreatitis—a painful condition that usually leads to vomiting and a very unhappy pet.
Also, watch out for bones and dough. Cooked turkey bones splinter easily and can cause serious blockages, while unbaked yeast dough can actually ferment and expand in a pet’s stomach. When the meal is over, secure the trash right away. A turkey carcass in a flimsy kitchen bin is just an invitation for a “dumpster dive” emergency.
🎄 Decorations & Hosting
If your house is full of guests and glittery decor, it can be a bit of a minefield for a curious pet. For instance, tinsel and ribbons are basically “cat magnets,” but if swallowed, they can tangle in the intestines and require surgery. If you have a cat, it’s usually safer to skip the tinsel entirely.
If you have a live tree, watch the water. Don’t add chemicals to it, because pets often try to drink it. And because the holidays can be loud and stressful, make sure your pet has a safe zone. A quiet back room or a familiar crate is perfect—though if they aren’t used to a crate, a holiday party is definitely not the day to start training! Finally, just in case someone leaves the front door open while welcoming guests, make sure your pet’s ID tags and microchip info are up to date.
🩺 The Bottom Line: If You’re Worried, Call Us
We know how busy this week is, but if you notice your pet acting “off,” don’t wait. Early detection makes a huge difference. Keep our number on your fridge, along with the numbers for a couple of emergency clinics in case we are closed.
If you’re concerned about a symptom or think they ate something they shouldn’t have, give us a call or head to an emergency vet immediately. We’re here to help!
