Keep pets safe

With just a couple of weeks to go until Christmas Day, Pets at Home is sharing the top trends, insights and expert advice to ensure that pets and their owners have a magical festive season.

Many festive plants and decorations can pose risks to furry friends.

Vet expert Dr Maeve Moorcroft comments: “A home full of decorations, food and presents offers an array of new toys, smells and tastes for our furry friends, but many popular Christmas decorations and plants can be unsafe for pets, including poinsettias and pine needles from the Christmas tree.

“With a little extra care and attention, you can ensure your pet has as great a Christmas as you. After all, they’re counted as our loved ones too!”

Other top tips include: “Keep fairy lights out of reach of pets so they can’t chew through them.

Vacuum regularly to reduce the risk of real or fake pine needles being ingested by your pet.

Be careful with edible decorations and chocolate gifts under the tree – chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs and other pets.

Christmas plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, amaryllis, ferns and pine sap are poisonous to cats and dogs.

Keep tinsel out of reach of cats and kittens, it can cause serious internal damage.

Keep burning candles on high shelves or mantels where you know your pet can’t reach.