The festival of Hanukkah is coming up, which means eight days of parties, presents and plenty of food. Hanukkah is a festival celebrated by lighting candles, playing games, and eating traditional Jewish foods.
For pet owners, it’s also a time to be extra vigilant about keeping their furry friends safe.
If you’re celebrating Hanukkah in the York area, follow these four tips to keep your pets safe during Hanukkah 2022.
Keep Your Pet Away From Lit Candles and Menorahs.
A menorah is a beautiful symbol and representation of the Hanukkah season. Each candle is lit for every day of the Hanukkah season. While this is an integral part of the Hanukkah season, you should keep your pets away from it. Your curious cat might want to jump up on the table and explore the menorah, but at the end of the day, they can either break it or burn themselves.
Keep Traditional Hanukkah Food Away From Your Pets
The food is something to look forward to during Hanukkah celebrations. Most, if not all, of the foods we enjoy for Hanukkah are completely unsafe for your pets. Here are some foods to avoid giving to your pets:
Brisket: Your pets’ mouths are sure to water when you serve this dish at your Hannukah celebrations. This is typically done with potatoes and carrots and made with various spices that are unsuitable for your pet. Avoid feeding this to them at all costs.
Latkes: One of the main ingredients in Latkes are onions. Onions are extremely dangerous for your pet. Consuming too many onions can affect their red blood cell count and cause it to decrease. Consider your onions as toxic as chocolate is to dog for your pets, and keep them out of reach.
Chocolate Coins: On the note of chocolate, chocolate coins are a fun little treat to lay out around the table and share with your guests. Your curious cat or dog may see the shiny wrapper and think it’s something fun to play with. Little do they know that consuming this will make them very sick. Keep their paws off of these treats and hand them to your guests in a safe manner. Consuming the wrapper is also very unsafe for your pet. It can lead to dangerous blockage in your pet’s GI tract.
Sufganiyot: These traditional Jewish jelly-filled donuts are delicious sweet treats often found in Hanukkah celebrations. Unfortunately, they are loaded with sugar and can easily poison your furry friend.
Food and Treats You Can Share With Your Pets
As devoted pet owners, we never want our furry friends to feel left out of any celebrations. If you’re going to provide your dog or cat with special food and treats during the Hanukkah celebrations, head to your local pet product shop in Aurora and Newmarket and grab some special canned food and holiday-inspired treats.
Be Cautious With Your Holiday Decorations
Decorating your home for the holidays is a great way to get everyone in the holiday spirit! However, some decor items can pose a risk to your pets’ health if they are chewed on and swallowed. Try to keep your decor high and out of reach for your pets. Be careful with putting things up on mantels or shelves that can easily break if your curious kitty knocks them over. Keep small chewable items off the floor so your dog doesn’t get into them while you’re busy with your guests.
Hanukkah starts on December 18th and ends on December 26th. Keeping your pets safe during Hanukkah will contribute to their overall health and happiness this year if you follow these four simple tips. From keeping them away from the candles to watching out for dangerous foods, these guidelines will help keep your furry friends safe and healthy during the holiday season.
Have a happy and safe Hanukkah!
Morag is the owner and founder of York Regions most trusted premier in-home pet care and dog walking companies. In 2000 she saw a need for an alternative to kennels, catteries for family pets in the area and has always believed that pets are much happier and less stressed staying in their own familiar environment. Morag and her team are all certified in Pet 1st Aid and CPR, she also offers continuous training to her team members through online and hands on pet care and pet behaviour and care courses. Morag has earned her certificate in Professional Pet Sitting, Professional Dog Walking and Canine Attendant training. She has lived in the Newmarket/Aurora area since 1991 is a wife, a mother of 2 adult children and a grandmother of 2 delightful little balls of energy. She has also been owned by fish, birds, mice, rats, cats, dogs, gerbils and guinea pigs and is an advocate for all living creatures. In her spare time she likes to be involved in her community and events travelling, reading and cooking.
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