Christmas and the winter holidays are known to bring several festive hazards into your home. Bay Animal Hospital would like to share some important safety tips to keep you and your pets safe this Christmas.

9 Ways to Make Christmas Safer for Your Pet

1. Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat.
2. 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 scaling it.
3. Keep holiday plants (especially holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies) out of reach of pets; they are highly toxic to animals.
4. Certain holiday decorations can also be dangerous. Lights and glass ornaments contain toxic chemicals that cause internal irritation and bleeding. Owners should avoid placing decorations where their pet can chew on or eat them.
5. Do not let your pet consume treats containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions, currants, macadamia nuts and walnuts. Ingesting them can result in upset stomachs, heart arrhythmia, kidney failure, seizures or even death.
6. Keep an eye out for loose electrical cords. Pets may chew through the rubber coating, causing electrocution or burns.
7. Don’t leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles.
8. If your pet is excitable or scared when you have company, consider putting your pet in another room with toys, a comfortable bed, etc., or providing a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement, such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place.
9. Watch those alcoholic drinks! It doesn’t take much for small animals to get alcohol poisoning.

For additional tips to help keep your pet safe this holiday season, please visit:

• ASPCA
• Veterinary Pet Insurance