The holidays can be a fun time for all, including the family pet.  Although it is natural to include them in almost everything we do, it is important to take special precautions during the holiday season to ensure their protection from anything that might cause injury or death.  There are many hazards to be aware of when it comes to enjoying a safe holiday with our pets. 

Tips on Food and Drink

Alcoholic beverages, holiday treats such as chocolate, and bones from poultry, pork and fish can be harmful or even deadly to pets.  Keep your pet on their regular diet.  

Other Holiday Precautions:

1. Many plants including Christmas rose, holly, poinsettias, mistletoe, philodendron and Dieffenbachia are all potentially dangerous and/or toxic to pets.  Keep them out of your pet's reach.  Holly leaves are quite sharp on the ends and have a potential to cause injury to the mouth and throat if eaten by a pet.  Poinsettias can cause severe irritation to the system when ingested causing vomiting, inappetance, and listlessness.  Pine needles from the tree can also be a danger--the pinpoint ends have the potential to scratch or cut the mouth and eyes of curious pets. 
2. Remove ice, salt and caked mud from your pet's paws and coat at once.  Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has frostbite.  Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white or gray and it may be scaly or sloughing. 
3. Holiday paraphernalia can be dangerous to pets.  Cover or tack down electrical cords.  Keep tinsel and glass ornaments out of your pet's reach.  Read warnings on items like spray-on snow.  Never allow your pet  to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders.

a.  Tinsel is shiny and attractive to pets, but is easily ingested.   It does not digest in the system, and     the strands tend to wrap around each other causing the possibility of an intestinal obstruction.  Vomiting, not eating, straining to stool, can all be signs of a problem.  If you have seen your pet eat tinsel, or suspect it, consult your veterinarian right away.

b.  Electrical cords are always dangerous, and every year pets are severely injured or even killed by biting into cords attached to seasonal lights. 

c.  Decorations have a lot of potential for problems.  Ornaments are usually fragile, and if broken can be sharp and easily cause cuts in the mouth or the toepads.  Ribbons and bows on packages are fun to play with, but if eaten can cause also be a cause of an intestinal obstruction.  Christmas tree lights and other decorative bulbs can get hot, potentially burning a curious nose.  Candles can also pose a threat for burns when pets get too close. 

4.  Do not allow your pet to play with small bows from Christmas packages or small toys or pieces of puzzles, toys or any other object that might be easily swallowed.  
5.  The Christmas tree can be very tempting, and every year many trees are scaled by the family cat.  Trees can also be easily knocked over, and many creative ways have been used to 'pet    proof' the tree, anything from anchoring it to the ceiling with thin ropes, to using barricades or baby gates to block off the room or even around the tree to keep pets (and sometimes toddlers) at a safe distance.  Pets may (will) also attempt to drink water from the tree stand, so be sure that it is well covered, and do not add anything to the water as a preservative for the tree.   It could be toxic to your pet.