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Step 1
Clear the tables and put away leftovers and trash right away. Pets can get into garbage cans and onto tables if they see a free meal. When dogs or cats chew and eat leftover bones, they can experience digestive tract tears and even fatal injuries. Also, the amount of fat and salt in holiday food is dangerous to pets' digestive systems.
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Step 2
Keep your Christmas tree safe for pets. Trim lower branches because pine needles that are ingested can cause severe puncture wounds in your pet's intestines. Make sure your tree is well-anchored and keep garland higher up; curious, climbing pets can get strangled or topple the tree onto themselves. Never add anything to the tree water in the bottom, in case your pet drinks it.
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Step 3
Protect your pet from poisonous plants like mistletoe, holly and poinsettias by keeping them out of reach.
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Step 4
Keep your pet's height and regular behavior in mind when you decorate. Glass decorations, breakable glass ornaments and globes, as well as dreidels and tinsel should be kept or strung out of pets' reach to safeguard them from knocking them over, cutting themselves or eating any parts of them.
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Step 5
Secure all electrical cords to the floor or wall with clips or strong duct tape so pets can't chew them and risk electrocution.
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Step 6
Light your candle decorations only when you are in the room and keep them way above eye level of pets and children. A swat of the tail or a bumped table can cause serious burns and even set the whole house on fire!
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Step 7
Maintain a firm routine for your pet around the holiday times to reduce stress. Keep walks, feeding and playtime consistent for your pet so there is less chance he will become aggressive or anxious that his routines are disturbed by all the festivities and visitors.
