It’s important to be mindful of your pet’s health as you prepare your home for the holidays. Although a tree and decorations may brighten up your home, they pose serious threats to pets, as they create new opportunities for injuries and accidents. Below, you’ll find practices approved by veterinarians to ensure everyone enjoys the holidays without incident.

How to Protect Your Pets During the Holidays

1. Be Mindful of Decorating

Christmas decorations are sure to catch your pet’s eye. Make sure electric lights, tree ornaments, and tinsel are out of reach. When ingested, these can create digestive complications. Animals may also strangle themselves in wires or pull Christmas trees and other fixtures down. Watch what holiday plants you decorate with. Holly, mistletoe, lilies, and pine needles can be toxic and cause digestion problems. Whenever possible, use fake options that are pet-safe.

2. Watch Out for Harmful Foods

Tasty holiday treats can be harmful to pets. They can’t metabolize theobromine in chocolate, which can have toxic side effects. Xylitol—a sugar substitute—will create digestive problems and require an emergency trip to the veterinarian. Be careful about hanging popcorn on strings; should your pet eat the string, it will become tangled in their stomach. During parties, make sure food platters are out of reach, and that guests know to never feed your pet.

3. Have a Safe Space During Parties

The loud chatter and music of holiday parties can cause stress and anxiety in pets. Create a safe place if you’re planning a get-together. Place their bed, blanket, and favorite toys in a quiet room on the other side of the house. This gives them a place to relax and will also ensure that they don’t accidentally escape and disappear into the cold. As an extra precaution, speak with their veterinarian to ensure the contact information on their microchip is up-to-date.

4. Keep Candles Out of Reach

Tipped-over candles cant quickly ignite Christmas trees, decorative cloth, and other highly flammable items, so keep them well out of reach. As a safe alternative, use electric candles.

A checkup at the veterinarian is an excellent way to end the year, so schedule a wellness exam at Avon Animal Hospital. This practice is led by veterinarian Jennifer Marvin and proudly serves Livingston County, NY. Dr. Marvin provides an array of services, including vaccinations, dentistry, and pet surgery—all of which you can explore online. Call (585) 226-6144 to schedule an appointment.