During the holidays, you’ll need to take a little extra care if you have cats and/or dogs. There are more dangers lingering in the house than usual. Cats and dogs are curious about the new smells and products appearing for Christmas.

Keeping pets safe over the holidays   During the holidays, you’ll need to take a little extra care if you have cats and/or dogs. There are more dangers lingering in the house than usual. Cats and dogs are curious about the new smells and products appearing for Christmas.  

The first thing they’ll need to check out is the new tree that has appeared in the living room. Make sure it is well secured. Cats love to climb trees, and your house will be a mess if a 6’ cedar tree hits the ground. If ornaments break, there is a chance your pet will cut their pads. Cats are curious about tree ornaments and ingesting broken glass/ ribbons can lead to emergencies.Tinsel is not toxic but can cause gastrointestinal blockage. If you see tinsel protruding from your pet (at either end) do not pull on it, seek medical attention.   

Don’t add preservatives to the tree water as you pet may try and drink from the stand. Curious puppies and kittens may chew on electrical wires causing burns. Try taping the cords to the walls and floors. The truth is, most pets don’t usually eat plants deliberately. If you do happen to own an animal that likes to eat everything, avoid mistletoe as the  berries are toxic Holly leaves are also dangerous, but too prickly and not likely ingested. 

The berries irritate the gastrointestinal system causing vomiting and diarrhea. Poinsettias used to be considered toxic but now it is believed that they are not. Chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic if ingested, so if you're planning on putting a wrapped box of chocolates under the tree, make sure the dog doesn’t sniff them out and eat the whole box while you’re out.Fatty meats and gravies can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which is a potentially deadly. Changing the diet or feeding fatty foods is very likely to cause diarrhea and vomiting, so ideally you should feed your pet what he normally eats during the holidays. A big danger is turkey bones. Bones can cause bowel obstruction, perforation and choking.