7 Dangerous Gifts to Never Give Your Pets

Of all the gifts your dog could get this year, leftover turkey and chicken bones seem like they would be pretty high on his wish list. But no amount of begging is worth the risk of giving him a meat bone. Any bones, including turkey, chicken, pork and fish bones — whether they’re raw or cooked — can shatter or splinter in your dog’s intestinal tract or cause intestinal blockage (or worse). Plus, bones and bone fragments can be choking hazards.

If a toy is specifically made for pets, it must be safe, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Cat owners shouldn’t give their kitties toys that have string, ribbon or yarn, since these can get stuck in the intestines if accidentally swallowed. And before giving your cat a toy mouse, make sure any glued-on eyes or noses are removed. Dog owners should think twice about giving their pups balls that are too small, toys with string or ribbon, or toys stuffed with beads or beans. It’s better to be safe than sorry: If a toy seems like it could be dangerous, keep it away from your pet.

After a big holiday meal, you may feel like your pup deserves to indulge a little, too. Before you feed him your leftovers, consider this: Too much rich holiday fare could lead to pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease often characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. If that’s not bad enough, some of the items on your plate could contain toxic ingredients like garlic, onions and raisins. If you must give your pet a taste of your holiday dinner, make sure the portion is small and doesn’t contain any toxic or rich ingredients.

It’s shiny, it’s crinkly and your cat probably loves to play with it, but tinsel isn’t safe to give your pet. If your kitty accidentally swallows this popular holiday decoration, it could harm his intestines and require surgery for removal. The same goes for garland and other long, stringy holiday decor. Keep it out of reach of your pet — or better yet, don’t decorate with it at all.

Go ahead and keep all that gelt you won spinning the dreidel for yourself — chocolate can be poisonous for pets. Chocolate contains two toxic ingredients: caffeine and theobromine. In general, the more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your animal. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, panting and seizures.

Santa hats and reindeer ears are certainly adorable on pets, but you should make sure the outfit isn’t too big or too small. It also shouldn’t have any loose bells, strings or other potentially harmful items. And you should make sure your pet doesn’t mind wearing clothes — pawing at or shaking off the outfit is a sign your pet isn’t a fan.

One of the best things about the holidays is when a neighbor drops off a plate of delicious sweets and baked goods. You may be tempted to share a bite of your sugar snowman cookie with your pet, but there’s a chance it could contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that’s toxic to dogs and possibly cats, too.