Kidderminster vets urge caution over Christmas novelties

Experts at the newly opened £1.5 million Maggie and Marlow practice at Prospect House in Lion Square, have warned the continuing trend of animals being made to wear novelty Christmas clothing could have detrimental effects on the health and welfare of pets. 

Research carried out by the team has highlighted that last year UK online searches for ‘dog Christmas jumpers’ was close to an all-time high at 29,000 in December alone, leading practice manager Rhiannon Cartwright to urge pet owners to think twice before jumping on the trend. 

Rhiannon, who is also a registered veterinary nurse, said that while she wanted pet owners and their animals to enjoy the festivities, she would advise against the use of jumpers, outfits or accessories on dogs.  

She said: “Fabrics can be flammable, restrictive and noisy and, therefore, stressful for dogs. They can also cause overheating, particularly for dogs with thick fur. 

“If your dog isn’t used to wearing a coat, then a jumper is also likely to be uncomfortable for them. Key warning signs that a dog is uncomfortable in a Christmas jumper or clothing item include panting, a reluctance to move and pacing. 

“If you notice any of these signs, remove any clothing immediately. 

“Pet owners should also avoid anything that could potentially be chewed, such as reindeer antlers, bells or decorations – swallowing any of these items could lead to an emergency visit to the vet.” 

As well as urging pet owners to avoid dressing animals in novelty items, Rhiannon also underlined the damaging effect another festive favourite can have on dogs, with chocolate the biggest cause of a Christmas trip to the vets. 

Indeed, Rhiannon added that Google searches for the phrase ‘dog ate chocolate’ more than double in December compared to other months. 

She said: “Christmas is an exciting time for pets, as they are surrounded by new smells, sights and sounds. It can be a challenging time for pet owners, however, as many of the items we see as festive treats have the potential to be hazardous to our pets. 

“Chocolate is toxic to dogs and shouldn’t be consumed in any quantity as it contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to dogs.  

“The type and quantity of chocolate, as well as the weight of your pet, will impact its level of toxicity when consumed.” 

Rhiannon said gastric changes are the typical telltale signs that a dog has consumed chocolate, adding: “Vomiting and/or diarrhoea are the most common symptoms that your pet has digested chocolate, they can also suffer from tremors and/or seizures. 

“These can be coupled with a change in behaviour, as dogs can become hyper excited or really dull, depending on the size of the dog and quantity or type of chocolate consumed. 

“These factors also impact the time it takes to display symptoms, but you can expect to see the signs between four and 24 hours after ingestion.” 

Rhiannon said having packaging to hand and being able to share information such as the type of chocolate, how long ago it was consumed and weight of both your pet and the confectionary eaten, will help vets accurately assess pets. 

Christmas hazards are not just restricted to clothing and chocolates, however, with Rhiannon urging pet owners to keep treats such as mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding well away from inquisitive paws due to raisins and sultanas both being toxic to dogs. 

Try to keep to your pet’s usual diet over the festive period. You should not feed your dog any of the following: