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It’s the most wonderful time of the year — until your pets want in on the celebration. Christmas safety for pets should be one of your top concerns as you decorate and celebrate the holiday.
Poisonous House Plants for Pets
Many of our favorite holiday decorative house plants can be dangerous — even deadly — for pets. Poisonous house plants for pets include Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly, poinsettias, and ivy. They can all cause serious intestinal issues in dogs and cats. Keep your pets away from these plants or better yet, choose alternative decorations or artificial plants.
Christmas Tree Lights, Ornaments, and Tinsel
Christmas trees are gorgeous with their sparkling lights, ornaments, and tinsel, but all of these can be destructive to your pets. Keep your tree out of reach of your pets, if possible. Skip shiny tinsel, as it’s especially attractive to cats. Make sure you quickly clean up broken ornaments, since sharp pieces can damage a pet’s digestive tract.
Chocolate and Special Human Food
Yummy food at Christmas isn’t just tempting for us humans; it also beckons our furry family members. Watch that pets don’t get into foods with chocolate or xylitol, and don’t leave plates unattended. Keep alcohol away from dogs and cats, as well as bones.
Gift Wrap, Ribbon, Tape, and Strings
Another danger lurks in the wrappings for packages and gifts. Glues, tapes, and adhesives can pose a danger to pets’ intestinal systems. Ribbons and strings may be lots of fun to unroll and bat around, but if swallowed, it’s bad news for your pet. They can become a tangled mess and present internal obstructions in your animal.
Safe Travels
If you’ll be traveling by car with your pet, make sure they are in an appropriate harness or carrier in a seat away from airbags. Check with your vet if you plan to take your pet with you on an airplane. Make sure your pet is updated on vaccinations and wearing clear identification and/or is microchipped.
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