7 Ways To Make Your Home Safe for Pets This Christmas

When the holidays arrive, it can be an exciting time for everyone in the family, including your pets. There are new sights and smells to discover, especially for younger pets that have never experienced Christmas, but in spite of all the fun and festivities, the danger may lie in some of the decor, food and gifts that fill the house this time of year, If you have a dog, cat or small mammal that you want to keep safe this holiday season, there are several strategies you can use for doing so.

1. Anchor Your Tree

Few Christmas items hold as much fascination for dogs and cats as a holiday tree. Whether real or artificial, many pets cannot resist the fluffy Christmas skirt, the swaying ornaments and branches that are simply made for climbing. Cats are especially interested, as a large tree presents them with an indoor gym and hours of entertainment. This attraction can cause chaos and injury, but one way to prevent it is to anchor your Christmas tree.

Anchoring a tree is a simple process and all you need is a sturdy eye hook and some tough fishing line. Screw the hook into the ceiling and use the fishing line to secure the tree so it cannot tip over. This may also prevent an exuberant dog from accidentally knocking the tree down as well.

2. Avoid Live Plants

Christmas often brings the arrival of fresh plants as friends and family bring festive flora to brighten your home. While plants like holly, poinsettia and mistletoe are beautiful, they might also present a poisoning risk to your dog, cat or small mammal. If you want to enjoy these plants, there are several ways to keep your pets safe, such as:

• Keeping plants in closed-off rooms

• Placing potted plants on high shelves

• Displaying plants in glassed-in cabinets

It is important that you never leave your pets alone with Christmas plants or to assume they will not try to eat the leaves or blossoms.

3. Secure Christmas Wiring

If you have ever watched your cat entangle itself in a ball of yarn, then you probably understand the temptation a twinkling pile of Christmas lights makes. Not only are the blinking lights endlessly fascinating for a cat, but the twisted wires might also prompt your cat to chew on them, which can cause a painful electric shock. Small animals might also find electrical cords and lights tasty, so you may want to keep pets like rabbits and ferrets away from any light displays.

You can still use Christmas lights safely around your pets by hanging them well out of reach and in rooms your pet does not visit much. Use sturdy fastenings to hang lights and avoid using thumbtacks, as these could pull out of the wall and fall onto the floor for your dog or cat to find.

4. Secure All Ornaments

Shiny and formed in all shapes and sizes, Christmas ornaments probably look like the world’s greatest toys to your pets. Batting them off the tree, chewing on them and pulling the hangers off them probably rank high on your pet’s list of holiday fun. However, glass ornaments, metal parts and sharp hooks could all pose a serious choking risk.

Securing your Christmas ornaments can prevent your pets from treating them like toys and breakage that could result in serious cuts, especially if any remnants are ingested. Wrap the hooks around your tree’s branches or use hangers specially made for pet owners who want to display their breakable ornaments without the risk of accidental damage. Knitted ornaments, such as this knit black lab ornament, can last for years.

5. Forego the Tinsel

While holiday tinsel can make your tree glimmer, it can wreak havoc on your pet’s innards if swallowed. Tinsel and garland can block the intestines or throat, which creates a choking hazard. Both cats and dogs can swallow tinsel, so it is important that you either use it sparingly or not at all. If you use garland as an outdoor decoration, use it in places your pets cannot reach.

There are several alternatives you can use in place of tinsel. Paper chains made of colorful construction paper, for example, brighten any tree and present little hazard for your pet. Beaded strands with beads too large for your pet to choke on may also provide a fine alternative to tinsel and garland.

6. Store Candy Carefully

Boxes of chocolate and your kids’ stockings are likely to be attractive to any animal, but they might also be a source of danger as well. Most types of chocolate are toxic to most pets and can poison them if ingested in large quantities. Sugar can also upset their stomachs and cause digestive problems.

If you want to fill your dog’s stocking with goodies, consider buying small squeak or plush toys, non-rawhide chews and other healthy treats like Chip’s Naturals Doggie Sweet Taters Dog Treats , which lets your pet celebrate with you in a way that is both delicious and safe.

7. Use Flameless Candles

Christmas candles, curious cats and long, wagging tails do not mix and can cause serious burns if your pet happens to knock one over. Consider using flameless or LED candles that present less of a danger, especially if your pet tends to have a long or clumsy tail.

Because pets are part of the family, you probably want to include them in on the festivities. Doing so in a way that is safe and fun can prevent accidents and make everyone’s holiday bright.