Pet Safety During the Christmas Holiday Season

The christmas holiday season truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone’s step has a little more pep in expectation of good tidings, and even more so…good food. Your pet definitely notices everything that’s going on, and will look to you for stability, safety, and consistency. Keeping your pet safe around christmas decorations, plants, and foods should be a top priority this christmas holiday season. The following are some guidelines you can follow to protect your pet from possible dangers.

Christmas Tree Decorations

• Anchor your Christmas tree to the ceiling to prevent tipping, and possible injury
• If you must water your tree, cover the water as it could have harmful pesticides
• Change tree water often to prevent stagnation
• Avoid tinsel (or hang it high), as it is very attractive to cats, and they could ingest it
• Give your puppy a safe place from streamers/confetti, and noise makers which could scare them or hurt their ears
• Snow spray/flock, Styrofoam, and the liquid in snow globes all pose potentially life threatening injuries to pets

Toxic Christmas Plants and Foods

• Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, azaleas, and many lilies are all toxic for pets
• Keep chocolate, and anything containing xylitol away from pets
• Secure all garbage bins, and watch unattended plates
• Keep small toys, and batteries away from pets
• Spicy foods, alcoholic drinks, and bones could cause an upset tummy
or worse for your pet
• Don’t let guests, especially children, feed your pet human foods

Giving Puppies as Gifts

• If the recipient is an adult, consider whether they have the time, and resources to care for a puppy on a long term basis
• Ask parents first, before giving a child a pet as the parents will ultimately be the ones responsible for it
• Consider giving a child a small, contained pet such as an ant farm, fish, rabbit, or Sea Monkey kit
• If no pets are allowed, consider a zoo membership or animal themed toys, games, and movies