NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Emergency pet clinics were fully staffed on Tuesday, as Christmas is one of their busiest days of the year.
Technicians at the Nashville Pet Emergency Clinic on 12th Avenue South said a typical Christmas involved five times the normal call volume and a 10 to 15 percent increase in visits.
"Kitties [eating] ribbons and strings, dogs eating paper and tinsel off the trees," said Devon Blackburn, a veterinary technician
Blackburn said she once saw a miniature Joseph from a nativity scene inside an animal.
Extensive travel and unfamiliar houseguests can also be a source of stress for the animals.
"Sometimes they manifest those emotions through not eating or vomiting," said Blackburn
Blackburn said relatives often feed the animals under the table, and rich foods, like cured meats, ham, chocolate, or any food which the animal is unaccustomed can cause a negative reaction.
She encouraged animal lovers to keep a close eye on their pets to avoid a trip to the pet emergency clinic.
