My friend, Barcy, has more than once commented on my tendency to “awfulize.” If there is the potential for something to go wrong, it’s very likely to play out vividly in my imagination. Although I do worry too much sometimes, other times, it actually helps me to proactively avoid danger. Such is the case with protecting my pets from holiday related harm from decorations, foods and activities.

I can understand why a pet might be tempted to play with holiday decorations. I am, myself, mesmerized by them so it’s no surprise to me that a cat or dog might want to investigate these wonders—and pets often do that by trying to eat or chew on things.

• Strings of twinkly holiday lights could shock your pet or at least cause wounds to their mouths if they bite into a cord. You might want to proactively spray these with a chew deterrent such as Bitter Apple.  Remember that such products lose their potency fairly quickly. I’d give cords a spritz a few times a day if pets will have full-time access to them.
• Glass ornaments can shatter, posing the danger of cuts to paw pads or even the mouth and digestive system of goat-like cats and dogs who are eager to ingest anything that fits in their mouths. Some of you may be laughing, but I know others are nodding with concern at the image of an all-too-likely possibility.  Hang any glass ornaments in high places that pets can’t reach. You may even consider limiting your pet’s access to areas decorated with such items. If you’ve put up a Christmas tree, you may want to enclose it in a pet exercise pen to keep pets at a safe distance. This year, I’ve seen more plastic ornaments for sale than in the past, and they seem to be prettier than ever. My glass ornaments stayed in their box this year!
• Even tinsel and garland can pose threats ranging from general stomach upset to an intestinal blockage as the ingested material twists, turns and bunches up. If you’ll be decorating with these, and your pet shows any interest at all, again, I’d liberally spray the Bitter Apple (or other chew deterrent.)  Stock up!  Buy the big bottle this season!
• Some “spray snow” can be toxic to pets if ingested. I’ve never decorated with it myself, but hear that you can buy a non-toxic version, so check your labels if you’ll be using it. If you’re unsure whether it’s toxic or not, only use it out of reach from your pets.
• Certain plants associated with the holiday season, including pine needles, holly, mistletoe and poinsettias, can also cause stomach upset or worse to pets who eat them. For more information on toxic plants, see the list compiled by VPI Pet Insurance.

In addition, holiday foods can pose numerous dangers to your pets.

• If overeating is a danger to us around the holidays, it’s even more of a danger to our pets who generally have much smaller bodies than we do. Although we might be tempted to give our pets a little nibble here and there, it’s important to keep in mind which foods that are dangerous for cats and dogs. It’s also important to avoid overloading them with calories.
• On that note, make sure your guests know the rules, too! Just a few tidbits from several different guests at one party can add up to one very upset pet tummy. 
• Also keep in mind that guests who don’t own pets may be unaware that the following foods and many more can cause stomach upset or even be toxic to cats and dogs: chocolate, certain nuts (especially macadamia nuts and moldy walnuts—not that you’ll intentionally be serving moldy walnuts), alcohol, caffeine, onions, raisins, grapes, cooked bones and fat trimmings.

In all the chaos of holiday get-togethers, sometimes we fail to keep as close an eye on our pets as we should.

• Pay special attention to making sure guests remember to fully close doors and gates.
• Keep closer tabs on pets when outdoors. With more people and dogs out and about visiting and all the delicious smells wafting out of nearby homes, pets may be more tempted than usual to dart off to explore if the opportunity arises.
• If you suspect that your pet might show aggression when someone tries to pet it, pick it up or take things away, make sure your guests understand and abide by the boundaries and rules—or consider keeping your pet securely and comfortably in a closed room with busy work toys or safe treats and soothing music. See my Weekly Yip about creating a Zen Zone for more tips on this topic.
• If carolers are likely to make the rounds in your neighborhood, have a plan in place for your pets. If your dog tends to be a little too exuberant in greetings, consider leashing your dog before opening the door or keeping your dog behind a gate so that they can enjoy being a part of the action without causing a commotion. If you have escape artist kitties, keep them in your arms or behind a closed door.
• When unwrapping gifts, be careful not to leave small items or toys with small pieces within a pet’s reach. If eaten, some of these items might cause an intestinal blockage.
• Keep in mind that the wild unwrapping of gifts could be very exciting to a pet, inspiring them to bounce around and play roughly—possibly injuring the gift unwrappers. Use management to prevent such a scene if needed.
• Avoid tying ribbons from gifts around your pets.  Although they may look cute so adorned, if they wander out of sight and get their ribbon caught on something, they could be hurt.

Even with all these precautions in place, have important emergency numbers handy.  Your list should include:

• Your own veterinarian’s number.
• The nearest 24-hour veterinary emergency medical center.  The four nearest to Arlington, MA are Vetcision in Waltham (781) 810-1010, VESCONE in Waltham (781) 684-8387, Mass Vet in Woburn (781) 932-5802 and Angell Memorial in Boston (617) 522-7282.  If you do need to visit one of these emergency centers, be sure to have someone call ahead to let them know you’re coming as you set out so that they can be better prepared to help your pet when you arrive.
• The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, staffed by veterinary toxicologists who “can provide rapid information about toxins and poisons.”

Plan ahead this year with your pets in mind.  With these simple safety precautions, may you and your pets enjoy very happy holidays!