Petproofing for the Holidays

As pet owners, we all enjoy celebrating joyous holidays with our furry friends. To decrease the likelihood of problems for our companions, we’ve made a short list of things you should and shouldn’t do:

1. Do make sure that all decorative lights are turned off and electrical cords are unplugged when you are not at home. 
2. Don’t let your cat play with ribbons or string because these can readily be swallowed and cause intestinal obstructions.
3. Do make sure your tree is stable and well secured so that it won’t topple over if it is used as a climbing post by your cat or a hiding place by your dog.
4. Don’t use tinsel for decorating since the sparkle and motion are sure to tempt your pet to chew on it, causing intestinal upset or obstruction.
5. Do keep any candles or liquid potpourri out of reach of inquisitive noses and wagging tails.
6. Don’t leave chocolates within easy reach on counters or gift-wrapped under the tree.
7. Do thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator rather than on a counter or in the sink. This not only minimizes health hazards to the humans eating it, but also eliminates the irresistible temptation for the dog or cat to help himself to some fresh meat.
8. Don’t feed leftover turkey or other treats to your pet as a ‘special treat’ unless you want to deal with the resulting digestive disturbances.
9. Do make sure that all poultry bones are safely stowed away in the garbage and out of reach of your pets. Cooked poultry bones splinter very easily and can cause serious injury.
10. Don’t leave your pets home alone over night, especially if there are a lot of gifts within easy reach.

By paying attention to the above suggestions, and using common sense, we hope you’ll enjoy a fun and uneventful holiday season.