11 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe during the Holidays

There is a lot going on during the holidays, and it's especially important to be aware of holiday hazards so that we can keep our pets safe, both indoors and out.

Watch out for these things around your pets during December:

1. Holiday lights: Indoor/outdoor lights can entice pets, however they may be tempted to chew the wires and could be electrocuted. Monitor pets when they are near the lights.

2. Ornaments and ribbons: Glittering ornaments and ribbons are hazardous to curious pets. Glass bulbs can shatter and tinsel can get stuck inside your pet's body. Make sure to hang all these intriguing items high on the tree out of your pet's reach.

3. Christmas trees: The water in the basin beneath the tree and the pine needles that fall to the floor can upset your pet's stomach. Don't let your pet drink the water. Please note that some trees are chemically treated, which make the pine needles quite toxic.

4. Guests: Oftentimes holiday guests may inadvertently leave the door open. This can lead to pets escaping. Make sure you have a recent photo and that your pets have identification tags with current information.

Guests might also feed pets table scraps which can be toxic or make them sick - be sure to tell them NOT to give pets holiday food. Better yet, before guests arrive, place your pet in a secure environment.

5. Antifreeze: For some reason, pets love the taste and smell of antifreeze, but it can kill animals! Keep all antifreeze away from your pets - drinking it can be a fatal cocktail. Be sure to always clean up any spills. Just a teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a cat.

6. Winter weather: Knock hard on the hood of your car prior to starting your engine. Many outdoor cats or other critters seek warmth from a car engine during cold winter months.

7. Water: Dogs can get dehydrated quickly. Even when left outdoors with the correct shelter from the sun, wind, rain, and snow, dogs still need fresh water. Ice and snow are not suitable substitutes for fresh liquid water. Use a safe, heated source or replace water at least twice a day.

8. Ice melt: Dogs that consume synthetic ice melt products can become seriously ill. Wash you pet's paws after a walk and the coat as well if they have been playing in the snow.

Be sure to keep them from eating snow near where ice melt has been used.

9. Holiday plants: Holly, mistletoe berries, paper white armayllis bulbs and poinsettia bracts are all toxic to our pets. Place them in an area your pets cannot access.

10. Food items: Friends often wrap various food items, such as candy or coffee that get placed under the tree where pets have easy access to open and consume. Chocolate and coffee are very toxic to pets. Be sure to ask friends if their presents are food items and, if so, do not put it under the tree.

11. Bones: If you serve foods such as turkey or ham, the bones can chip and lodge in a pet's stomach, throat, or intestinal tract. This obstruction can be life threatening and lead to surgery. It is best not to share table scraps with our pets. (Y! Green)