The Christmas holidays can be dangerous for pets

Before you head off into holiday bliss, remember that as stressful as all that shopping, decorating and baking can be for us, our pets don’t have an easy time of it either. Here are some tips to help them survive the holidays.

Keep it calm

Some pets do just fine with all the uproar surrounding the holidays — the kids ripping open their gifts, the adults getting a bit too carried away by bowl games and NFL match-ups and the steady stream of visitors and holiday well-wishers. Others, and I know this from experience, don’t.

Do your pets have a place they can escape to for some peace and quiet.

Alert your visitors to the fact that youhave a pet and warn themagainst opening outside doors that can provide an avenue of escape.

Decorations

You know your pet’s peccadilloes when it comes to Christmas trees, wreaths and other baubles. Decorate around their abilities to leave some things alone, and skip the others, or place themout of reach.

At this time of year, we have a fondness for lighting candles, whether it’s for religious reasons or cozy ambiance. Be especially careful about leaving flames unattended around your pet. If they knock over a lighted candle or get too close, they can singe their fur, burn themselves or set fire to your house.

We often have plants in the house that we normally wouldn’t. Keep an eye on your pet to make sure it doesn’t nibble or chew on plants that could make it ill. Poinsettia, the traditional Christmas plant, was once thought to be highly poisonous, but is now considered only mildly so.

The berries on mistletoe and holly, however, are toxic to pets and humans alike, although in the case of mistletoe, it depends on the variety, and with the holly, how much is consumed and the size of the pet. Holly berries are far more dangerous to dogs than to cats.

Amaryllis plants can be toxic if your pet digs up the bulb and eats it. And while the different types of Christmas trees aren’t considered poisonous, make sure that the water well in the tree holder is covered. Your pet can become ill drinking the water, especially if you’ve added something to help keep the tree fresh.

Holiday foods

There usually is no shortage of tasty treats lurking in our refrigerators and on every flat surface in the house. While most of them won’t kill your pet, none of them are particularly good for them.

The ones to watch out for the most are:

Chocolate: The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for pets, especially dogs. The amount eatenandthe size of the animal also factor in, but best to avoid it all together.

Xylitol: This sweetener, found in sugar-free candy, gum, toothpaste and other products, is a real concern. It causes the animal’s blood sugar levels to drop into dangerous areas very quickly. If not treated immediately, the pet can suffer organ damage and slip into a coma.

If you suspect your pet has consumed some, head to the nearest emergency vet hospital.