7 things you can do to make the holidays safer for your pet
- Keep people food 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;
- Don't leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, a decorated tree or potpourri;
- Keep holiday plants (especially holly, mistletoe and lillies) out of reach of pets;
- Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat;
- 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;
- If your pet is excitable or scared when you have
company, consider putting your pet in another room with some of his/her
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)