Watch Out for Poinsettias, Freezing Temperatures, and New Houseguests
BOSTON, Dec. 22, 2025 – Angell Animal Medical Centers is offering pet owners advice to keep their furry friends safely at home and out of the emergency room this holiday season.
“Most people with dogs know that they need to keep them away from chocolate, but there are plenty of other possible hazards related to the winter holidays that they may not be aware of,” explained Dr. Susan O’Bell, service director of Angell Animal Medical Center’s Primary Care Department.
“Plus, with chocolate and other things they might eat, there are a lot of factors to consider before rushing into the emergency room,” she added. “It’s important for pet owners to be totally prepared as we get into this often-hectic time of year, and we want to help!”
Myriad Dangers from Coffee to Tinsel to Holiday Plants
According to Dr. O’Bell, there are a lot of potentially dangerous things that dogs and cats may eat—and not just food.
“We love our pets, but many of them have been known to get ahold of things that they aren’t supposed to, and chances are that might be easier for them to do when we’re distracted or busy,” she said.
Dr. O’Bell recommends watching out for these hazards in particular:
- Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can cause serious illness or even death if too much is consumed.
- Alcohol can be harmful to humans, but also to pets as it causes their blood sugars and blood pressure to drop, which can lead to seizures and respiratory failure.
- Stagnant water sitting in a Christmas tree holder can be a breeding ground for bacteria that may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea if consumed by a pet.
- Holiday plants pose varying dangers to pets: Eating holly and mistletoe may cause gastrointestinal upset, all parts of lilies are toxic to cats and could potentially cause life-threatening kidney failure, and poinsettias may cause upset stomach.
- Decorations, including ribbons and tinsel, are not necessarily toxic, but may result in gastrointestinal blockage that could be life-threatening.
“Regardless of what your pet eats, we recommend checking in with your vet before heading to the emergency room,” Dr. O’Bell advised.
“Your primary care provider knows your pet best, so if you’re able to tell them what was eaten, they can determine based on factors like size, breed, and history whether you should go to a hospital or if there’s an at-home remedy you can try.”
“However, if your primary care practice isn’t able to field a call, you should check in with poison control or a local emergency room because time could be of the essence.”
Angell Animal Medical Centers has 24/7 emergency care in Boston and Waltham. Urgent care is also available in Waltham, which may be helpful for these dangers, as well as those found outside of the home.
Protect Paws and Stay Warm
Another possible harm to our pets comes from efforts to clear snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks.
“Ice melt can burn dogs’ paws,” said Dr. O’Bell. “You can buy pet-safe ice melt, but if you don’t have it or are walking your dog in areas beyond your home, consider using boots or other foot coverings.”
It is also important to keep cats indoors when temperatures are frigid, even if they often spend time outside in more temperate weather.
“Cats that are outside in cold weather might try to stay warm in car wheel wells or under hoods,” Dr. O’Bell elaborated. “If people don’t know about the cats, they could start the car, which can cause severe burns.”
While it is not feasible to keep dogs inside during cold weather, some may need extra help staying warm when going potty.
“Shorthaired dogs, like greyhounds, beagles, and chihuahuas should be dressed in sweaters or other protective clothing,” she added, noting that owners should also make sure that any clothing does not restrict dogs’ movements.
In addition to physical dangers, there are also some emotional considerations that should be made for certain pets during the holidays.
Keep Calm and Set Up a Safe Space
When planning for the holidays, there is one important question that pet owners need to ask themselves.
“What can you predict about your pet’s behavior before guests arrive?” asked Angell Behavior Operations Manager, Susan Conway, who manages behavior training at the MSPCA-Angell Northeast Animal Shelter and across MSPCA-Angell locations. “Our behaviorists would indicate that some pets are naturally comfortable around people, regardless of whether or not they’ve met before, but others need time to adjust to new faces—or may never be comfortable with some guests.”
For dogs, or those who may be at risk to bark, nip, or even bite, Angell experts recommend ensuring that they have a safe place to escape busy holiday gatherings, like a crate or quiet room with their favorite toys, blankets, and other items. The same is true for cats who do not like crowds—let them hide where they like.
It is also important to take steps to ensure that dogs are okay with four-legged visitors. If you know there is a fractious history between dog “relatives,” think about kenneling your dog rather than bringing them.
“Consider introducing dogs who don’t know each other outside of the home so there’s less of a chance of your dog being territorial,” Conway suggested. “Even if the dogs are already familiar with each other, it’s smart to have the visiting dog bring a crate and go-to toys or treats, in case sharing might be an issue.”
If you believe your pet may need some help adjusting to new settings and faces, the MSPCA-Angell may have a solution.
“It’s never too late for our pets to learn new things,” added Conway. “We can help change unwanted behavior at any age, and we have classes and behavioral appointments at locations across Massachusetts.”
Those interested in learning more about pet behavior classes are asked to visit mspca.org/dogtraining.
More holiday safety advice may be found on the MSPCA-Angell’s website, here.
