Australian pet owners warned over ticks, fleas and dangerous food this Christmas season

From Christmas tree decorations to typical tick and flea infestations, summer brings a wealth of dangers to our furry friends.

Pet insurers are expecting claims to spike this silly season and with a trip to the emergency room the last thing anyone wants, it’s vital pet owners “stay vigilant”.

That’s the advice of Pet Insurance Australia’s Nadia Crighton, who shared her top tips for keeping your pet safe this silly season.

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“As the Christmas trees and decorations quickly become the staple in many homes around the country, sadly, some Australian pets will also succumb to the vet emergency trends for this time of year,” Crighton said.

With entertaining at a high, pets are also more at risk of ingesting something they shouldn’t.

“We certainly see a big spike in claims for foreign body ingestion during the warmer months,” Crighton said.

“This can be due to a host of reasons, including entertaining and not securing rubbish bins correctly, too many new and interesting items being left around — cue the tinsel.”

Skewers, fishhooks, underwear and corn cobs have been problem causes for pets in the past year, but attention also turns to chocolate and alcohol during the festive season.

Overfeeding and eating human foods, such as nuts and lollies, can also pose a problem for dogs.

“It’s just ensuring that people remember dogs are natural scavengers, and thinking that Rover simply won’t eat it is incorrect,” Crighton said.

“It’s always best to ensure that your pet does not have access to anything that can cause detrimental effects to their health and wellbeing.”

Anyone taking their pets away with them is advised to check if the area is prone to ticks.

“Tick paralysis is a terrifying situation for the pet and the owner,” Crighton warned.

As of November, Pet Insurance Australia claim data already shows a 900 per cent increase in paralysis tick claims compared to the cooler months — and this is only expected to increase right through to February.

“Ask any vet, and you’ll find the high-end costs some pet owners pay, out of their own pocket, for life-support ventilators and 24/7 care over a number of days to save their pet from a paralysis tick event, is eye-watering,” Crighton said.

“A simple $50 tick treatment from your local pet supplies store will make your pet almost tick-proof for three months.”