While you are busy making your festive plans for the holidays, don’t forget to include your pets. Once you know the hazards, a little precaution and prevention will make holidays a happy time for everyone!

• Holiday plants – Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. Poinsettia may not be truly poisonous, but it’s milky white sap and leaves certainly severe gastric distress.

• Electrical cords – Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Be sure you have cords secured and out of the way to prevent them from getting shocked.
  
  
• Batteries – Keep loose and packaged batteries away from pets. They contain corrosives that can cause ulceration in your animal’s mouth, tongue and gastrointestinal track if bitten or swallowed.
  
  Christmas Trees – Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat or large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using a strong cord or rope. Be sure not to let pets drink from your tree’s water reservoir.
  
  
• Entertaining – Crowds of people and holiday festivities can frighten animals. If you plan to entertain, make sure your pets have a safe haven where they can retreat.
  
  
•  Holiday foods – Do not stuff your pet with the holiday left-overs. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages, chocolates are poisonous, and any sudden change of diet, even for just one meal, can give your dog or cat stomach pain and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals, whose digestive systems are often more delicate and nutritional requirements more strict.