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Hanukkah Safety for Pets

Published: 12/23/24

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Hanukkah is a wonderful time to celebrate with family, friends, and animal companions, but with eight nights of festivities, it’s important to take precautions to keep pets safe.

  1. Keep menorahs and all lit candles out of reach to prevent burns or accidents—LED candles are a safe alternative.
  2. Watch out for gelt (chocolate coins) — chocolate is toxic to pets, and the foil wrappers can cause choking or obstructions.
  3. Fried latkes might be delicious for us, but they’re high in fat and often contain onion, which is toxic to pets.
  4. Spinning dreidels may look like pet toys, but they pose a serious choking hazard if swallowed. For pet-safe options, check out AMC’s holiday gift guide.

Hanukkah Pet Safety. Keep menorahs and all lit candles out of reach so that pets don’t burn themselves or knock them over. Play it safe and use LED candles instead. These candy “coins” known as gelt are doubly dangerous: they’re made of chocolate, which is toxic to pets, and the foil wrappers can become a choking hazard or cause an obstruction if swallowed. Fried potato pancakes or latkes are high in fat, which can lead to pancreatitis. They also contain onion, which is toxic to pets. Spinning dreidels may pique your pet’s interest, but they can become a choking hazard or cause an obstruction if swallowed.

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