Keeping your furry family members safe during the holidays can be a difficult task. There are ornaments, plants, presents, lights–oh, and who could forget the Christmas tree? Let’s take a look at some simple steps that will allow your pets to join in the holiday fun this year, while avoiding any trips to the emergency clinic.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE SAFE FOR YOUR PETS:
1. Place your tree in a corner, blocked off from your pet’s wanting eyes. If this doesn’t keep your dog or cat from attempting to jump onto the tree, you can place aluminum foil, a plastic drink bottle filled with knick knacks, or anything else that creates noise on the tree’s bottom limbs to warn you of an impending tree disaster.
2. Tinsel can add a nice sparkling touch to the tree, but make sure you hang it up out of your pet’s reach. Ingesting tinsel can potentially block their intestines, which usually requires surgical intervention to fix.
3. Do not put lights on the tree’s lower branches. Not only can your pet get tangled up in the lights, but they are a fire hazard. Additionally, your dog or cat may inadvertently get shocked if they chew through the wires.
4. Ornaments need to be kept out of reach too. In addition to being a chocking and intestinal blockage hazard, shards from broken ornaments could injure your pet’s paws, mouth, or other parts of their body.
5. For those with a live tree, keep the area around the tree free and clear of pine needles as much as possible. While they may not seem dangerous, they can cause issues from stomach upset to puncturing your pet’s intestines.
OTHER PET SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
1. Did you know that holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia plants are poisonous to dogs and cats? If you normally use these plants to decorate your home during the holidays, they should be kept out of your pet’s reach.
2. Edible tree decorations–whether they be ornaments, or cranberry or popcorn strings–they are all like time bombs waiting to happen. These goodies are just too enticing for your pet and they will surely want to tug on them and potentially knock down your wonderfully decorated tree.
3. Burning candles should be placed on high shelves or mantels, out of your pet’s way–there’s no telling where a wagging tail may end up. Homes with fireplaces should use screens to avoid accidental burns for your pet.
4. To prevent any accidental electrocutions, any exposed indoor or outdoor wires should be taped to the wall or sides of the house.
5. When wrapping gifts, be sure to keep your pets away. Wrapping paper, ribbon, plastic, or cloth could cause digestion problems. Scissors are another hazard and they should be kept off the floor or low tables.
