Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group
December 21st, 2020
Pets can make a fun holiday season ever brighter as we enjoy putting on Santa hats and giving away special treats to our dogs and cats at Christmastime.
What many may not think about, it that the holidays can be a very dangerous time for our beloved furry friends. To help keep the holidays safe for our little buddies we visited the American Veterinary Association to get some tips on how to keep it safe.
Keep food for humans out of the reach of your pet, and ask your guests to do the same.
Make sure your pet doesn't have any access to treats, especially those containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions or other toxic foods.
Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat. Eating tinsle can be very bad for their digestive systems.
Secure your Christmas tree to keep it from falling over if your dog bumps it or your cat climbs it. Hanging lemon-scented car air fresheners in the tree may deter your cat from climbing it.
Provide a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement (such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place) if you’re entertaining guests. If your pet is excitable or scared, consider putting your pet in another room with some toys and a comfortable bed.
Keep holiday plants (especially holly, mistletoe and lillies) out of reach of pets.
Don't leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles - they can knock them over. Also, don't leave them alone with a decorated tree which is a potential fire hazard.
