Ho Ho Ho Hold the Holly!

The Holidays are upon us and if you are like me, you have been counting down the moments until you can drag the boxes of decoration out of the garage and turn your house into a winter wonderland! It is truly my favorite time of year.

This year will be my first Christmas with a puppy AND a kitten in the house. I have seen videos on Facebook showing pets who with one paw take down the an entire Christmas tree in just seconds. I am terrified. I suspect there will be a few Christmas decoration casualties that I won't be able to blame on my toddler this year!

With all the potential catastrophes that may occur in the Finney Household this Christmas, there are some steps I will take to make sure our Christmas is as safe as possible for our fur kids. Below is a list to help you (AND me)!

Holiday Plants

Many holiday plants (Holly, Mistletoe, Lilly and Poinsettia) are not safe for pets. From stomach upset to significant renal toxicity, many of the plants we use to "deck the halls" can cause great harm to our pets. The safest bet is not to use real plants or even bring them into your home. There are many silk and fake plants today that are very realistic. Most people have no idea they are fake. The plus side is that you don't have to water them and you can re-use them year after year!

Tinsel

I'm a typical girl so shinny pretty things grab my attention pretty quickly. Apparently my kitten is the same way. Who knew? Many ornaments and decoration can grab their attention. It is important to eliminate decorations that include small ribbons or strings that can easily be ingested. Kittens love sting or sting-like ribbons. When ingested, kittens can become dangerously obstructed which could lead to a significant gastric upset or surgical removal. Now you have an excuse to hold the tinsel! You're welcome.

Christmas Trees

If you have children, you probably know you have to secure you Christmas tree. The same is true if you have pets. Take the extra time to make sure your Christmas tree is well anchored. If you have a live tree that requires daily watering, make sure you cover the water reservoir to avoid your pet from lapping up potential fertilizer or treated water. Lastly, make sure that Christmas tree light wires are out of reach. Pets that chew on wires are at risk for electric shock which could potentially be lethal.

The holidays are a great time of year. Sadly, they are also some of the most dangerous for our pets. With just a few steps, you can make sure your winter wonderland is as safe as possible.