The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy and celebration. To keep the festivities bright, consider pet-proofing your home. The following safety precautions can go a long way toward making it a safe — and fun — holiday.
Never leave flames unattended: Candles and the Hanukkah menorah are integral components of the upcoming holidays, but pets can knock them over. Keep burning candles safely out of reach and only use them when you are actively supervising them.
Make trees safer: Wobbly trees are easily knocked over by pets. Use stands that are secure. Provide additional support if required. Sweep up pine needles immediately; when ingested, they can puncture a pet's intestines. Better yet, choose a pet-friendly evergreen without sharp needles. Ensure pets do not drink the tree's water. It can contain bacteria, fertilizers and water treatments that may be toxic. Place a mesh screen over the water bucket to block access if necessary.
Hang ornaments with care: Many holiday ornaments can be dangerous. For example, pets can suffer from shock and burns if they chew electrical cords. Broken glass ornaments can cause cuts. They can also cause internal injuries if ingested. Secure heavy objects and keep hazards out of reach. Pet owners should also make it a tinsel-free holiday. It is irresistible to many animals and can become tangled in their intestines.
Choose pet-friendly plants: Common holiday plants are toxic to most pets. Holly and mistletoe are two examples. Bird owners may want to skip these plants altogether.
Start a new tradition and choose pet-friendly varieties instead. The ASPCA has a toxic plant database that can help owners avoid dangerous plants. Visit aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants.
A place for pills, purses and small objects: Visiting guests may bring medications. Provide them with a secure drawer to store pills and other valuables. This keeps potentially dangerous items well out of the reach of curious pets. Remember that purses can also contain hidden hazards. For example, Xylitol is a common artificial sweetener and can be found in chewing gum and mints. Have guests place their handbags up and out of reach. Keep children's toys out of reach, too. Tidy and sort as you open presents. Small removable parts are potential choking hazards. Batteries are toxic.
Food can be fatal: Ensure food is kept out of your pet's reach. Dispose of bones and waste immediately. Use a trash bin that keeps pets out. Remember that many foods eaten by people are toxic to animals. Common toxic foods include chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, alcohol and onions. Watch for hidden dangers. Many fruit juice blends contain grape juice. Do not place gifts of food under a tree. Provide an alternative location instead.
Create a safe zone: The holiday season can be exhausting for pets. Designate one area of the house as a pet-safe zone. It provides a quiet place for the animal to retreat. Owners can put animals there when unable to supervise around potential holiday hazards.
A safe room can also be used when guests are arriving and departing to avoid an unexpected dash out the door.
Supervise children: Always supervise when pets and children are together. Do not allow children to take bones or toys from dogs. This is especially important when these objects are new and highly prized. Designate one responsible and sober adult to supervise all interactions. Intercede on the animal's behalf if it looks overwhelmed.
Provide identification: Check collars and ID tags to ensure your pet can be identified. Should it get lost, you'll want it identified and returned as quickly as possible.