Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

'Tis the season for friends and family, eggnog and other treats, and good times! During this busy time it can be a challenge to juggle everything that needs to be done -- including caring for your four-legged friends. Here are a few tips to help keep your furry friends safe for the holidays: 

__No Chocolate, Please 
Although Fido and Fluffy may be attracted to the smell and taste of chocolate, in sufficient quantities, chocolate can make her very sick. The result? Vomiting, diarrhea, and a lovely holiday spent at the emergency vet clinic. 
Be sure to store chocolate well away from pets. Open counters or ledges are not good places -- some dogs may counter-surf', and cats easily reach counters (what's worse, they can knock chocolate off the countertop and straight into the path of enthusiastic dogs!). 

__Tinsel's Pretty, But... 
Although it's a popular decoration for trees, it can pose a danger if your pet swallows it. It's possible for it to cause an intestinal blockage -- and again, no one (least of all your pet!) wants to spend the holidays undergoing surgery! 

__What's That? Who's There? 
Holidays are often filled with friends and family going in and out of the house. If your pet is excitable or tends to get stressed with noise and crowds, consider placing her safely in a crate or a room that's "out-of- bounds" to guests. Give her blankets, food, water, toys ... and check in with her regularly to make sure she's okay. This will help to ensure your pet stays safely with her family, rather than accidentally slipping out the door. 

__Mmm mmm! Extension cords! 
With all the pretty lights during the holiday season, you probably have a variety of extension cords running every which way. Some pets have a real 'taste' for extension cords -- keep an eye on them to prevent chewing, or they could be in for a real 'shock'! Where possible, tie cords out of the way. Some hardware stores also sell a plastic tubing into which you insert cords to keep your gnawing little pet from hurting herself. 

Happy Holidays to you and your family -- both two-legged and four-legged!