Keep Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season

Keeping your furry friends safe during the busy holiday season can be quite the challenge. There are new and interesting temptations in your home, new noises and smells, and likely a lot more people coming and going. In the hustle and bustle, it can sometimes be easy to overlook some common dangers for your pet. To help keep everyone in the holiday spirit – and out of the animal hospital – we have put together a little list of simple things you can do to keep your pets safe this holiday season.

Holiday Decorations: Tinsel can be very attractive to pets, particularly cats. While it may be fun to play with, ingesting it could result in an intestinal blockage. Similarly, if glass ornaments are broken and eaten, there would be great potential for serious damage to the digestive tract, or the glass shards could injure paws or other parts of the body. Lights that are hung too low on the tree are very tempting to pets who like to chew, and could create a fire or electrocution hazard. It is best to hang all holiday decorations out of reach of all household pets.

Holiday Plants: Mistletoe, holly and poinsettia are common holiday plants, and all of these are toxic to pets. It is best to avoid these plants in a household with pets, but if you have them, make sure they are out of your pet’s reach. Call your veterinarian or poison control center if you believe your pet has ingested any of these plants.

Christmas Tree: It can make your pet ill to eat certain types of Christmas trees, as well, so watch your pet closely for interest in chewing on the tree itself. The tree water can also be a concern, as it can contain fertilizers and/or bacteria, so it is a great idea to anchor your tree to the wall to prevent a spill, as well as to keep the tree from falling over onto your pet. Keep loose pine needles cleaned up off of the floor.

Gifts: Covered with bright colors, ribbons and bows, gifts can be an enormous temptation to curious pets. Make sure there are no food items inside the gifts under the tree, and it might help to minimize loose strings. Many people choose to place their tree in a corner and gate it off once presents starts to accumulate – this might be the safest choice to cover all of your bases.

Holiday Gatherings: Finally, one of the best parts of the holiday season is getting a chance to visit with loved ones, but sometimes the full house can be stressful for your pet. Take a few moments to make certain that your pet is fed on the same schedule as they are used to, and has a safe haven to escape the commotion, whether it is their favorite room, comfy bed, or through their Hale Pet Door into their cozy outdoor space.

Happy Holidays, from all of us at Hale Pet Door, to you and your furry family members!