7 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe This Holiday Season

If you have a pet, you may want some tips to keep your pet safe this holiday season.

The holiday season is upon us! With that, it is important to remind pet parents of the potential hazards that may crop up during the holiday. Some items are contributed by Dr. Amber Karwacki of Heart + Paw.

Your fur babies are vulnerable to certain dangers during the holidays. Whether it be things they're not supposed to eat, or stressors that aren't usually present, potential hazards exist. There are ways to prevent your pets from falling victim to stressful events this holiday season.

We are here to make sure you're adequately prepared for potential problems you and your pet may encounter in the coming weeks. These helpful tips serve as both reminders of and solutions for common holiday hazards.

Pets are precious! Let's keep them safe from things that could harm them during the holidays. Your fur babies deserve all the protection you can give them from anything that could do them harm. Keep this list in the back of your mind when decorating, cooking, or hosting this season. It's vital to your pets' well-being and happiness. Oh, and yours too! When our pets are happy and healthy, so are we.

Your pets may get into trash. If lids aren't secured, or trash bags you intend to take out are left unattended, your pets may find a way in. Did you know turkey and chicken bones are not safe for pets to munch on? They splinter and can cause a host of issues. The raisins in your fruitcake? Not good on puppies' tummies. There are so many hazardous items your pet can find in the trash. Be sure to keep lids tightly closed, and watch your pet.

Guests may make your pets anxious. The influx of people in their safe space may cause them to act out because of anxiety. Consider ways you can help keep them calm. The guests themselves may overstep and feed your dogs table scraps even if they are not allowed to have them typically. If you are uncomfortable with that, try to chat casually with your guests about it.

Poinsettias are pretty poisonous to cats and dogs. When ingested, mild signs of vomiting, drooling, or rarely, diarrhea may be seen. Lilies, holly, and mistletoe are also poisonous to cats, Consider buying fake versions of these plats for your festive décor.

Turkey skin can cause pancreatitis for dogs, which can be a life-threatening condition. Also, try to avoid giving this to your pets because of the spices you rub onto the skin. Some spices may not play well with your pet's tummy. If you want to give them turkey, give them only a small piece of white meat.

Low hanging ornaments and branches may be a nightmare for pet owners with playful animals. Cats and dogs may see the tree as a plaything and send it tippling over when trying to grab at a fun looking decoration. If you feel your pet may try to mess with the tree, hang ornaments higher than their eye level, or cordon them off from the room the tree is kept in, unless supervised.

Also, be careful if you have a live tree. Tree water may look appealing to a curious pet. Not only is pine water hard on tummies, it is also essential to the safety of your entire family. If you don't realize that Fido has lapped up your tree's water, the tree will get dry. Dry trees = fire!

Stockings hung with care help protect your pets. Loads of treats get stuffed into these festive socks. One treat being namely, chocolate. We all know the issue with chocolate and pets. Hang your stocking high if you feel your pet may try to bring it down!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Fireworks, yelling, noisemakers, and singing ensues. Reactive pets may have a hard time with all of the excitement. They may try to bolt out the door as you're heading outside to celebrate, or huddle in a corner of your home alone. Support them with things that make them calm on New Years Eve. And keep an eye on them!