Holiday safety tips for your pet!

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s important to know how to keep your pet safe! That’s why we’re sharing holiday safety tips for you and your pet.

Here are some tips so you ensure your Holidays are a safe and exciting time for your pet.

Holiday safety tips

Tinsel: This is a big ‘no-no’ for pets. Cats and dogs are attracted to the shiny material and if they swallow it, it could cause serious damage to their intestines.

Christmas Tree: Make sure your tree is secure! If it falls over on one of your pets it could cause serious injuries. Check that it’s sturdy and consider fastening it to the wall for added security.

Holiday flowers: Christmas flowers can be a nice hostess gift to brighten the home – but they can be deadly to your pets. A list of the most common, toxic holiday plants for cats includes:

• Oleander
• Morning glory
• Holly
• Daffodil bulbs
• Ivy
• Mistletoe
• Impatiens
• Geranium

Holly can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, while mistletoe and poinsettias can cause stomach upset. It’s not worth it! Keep your pets safe and keep the plants out.

Holidays meals: We know you’re proud of the holiday meal you created – but that doesn’t mean you should share it with your pets. Consider keeping your pets in a separate and comfortable room while serving and eating your holiday meal to keep them from sneaking a bite.

Alcohol-Not for Pets: This one seems pretty straightforward. Just like human food, chocolate and candy, alcoholic beverages are not meant to be consumed by pets. So keep an eye on your drink.

Other hazards

Things like wires, batteries, glass or plastic ornaments, are all part of decoration, but keep them out of your pet’s reach. They pose a serious hazard to your pet lying around. If you’re going to have candles out, make sure they are never left unattended where your pets can get to them. Not only could a lit candle start a fire in your home if knocked over, it could also seriously injure your pet.

For more pet safety tips for the holidays, visit our fact sheet here or consult the ASPCA’s fact sheet.

Still searching for the perfect holiday gift? Our Paws & Give™ online catalogue has many great options for all the pet lovers in your family!