1. Create a safe room for your pet. Designate a room as a safe room during holiday gatherings to keep your pet’s stress down and protect them from potential hazards. When visitors come by, they may be unaware about potentially toxic foods, leaving doors propped up promoting pet escape or kids may interact with your pet inappropriately, leading to dog bites. A safe room will keep your pet away from all of the holiday activity and minimize their stress during the holiday parties and dinners.
2. Have pet-free kitchens during holiday cooking. Avoid letting pets into the kitchen while you are preparing your holiday feasts. This will minimize potential burns, cuts and even broken bones for pets if you trip over a dog or cat while carrying a food item. Dogs and cats could potentially steal fat trimmings or bones that are left within reach which cause pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
3. Minimize pet poisoning. Candies, food inside holiday wrapping, food left on a table by a guest, and the trash can are sources of food poison for your pet. Keep an eye for situations like these during the festive season. It is best to know where your local 24-hour veterinary clinic is located. Keep snowglobe snow in the snow globe!
4. Plants could be poisonous, too. Mistletoe, poinsettia and holly berries are cutely toxic to pets.
5. Keep guest jackets out of pet’s reach. Mints and candies can be usually found in jacket pockets. These foods can be life-threatening if they contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener.
6. Avoid breakable ornaments and décor. Also, avoid tinsel and garland which can cause intestinal obstructions and other gastrointestinal issues. Secure Christmas trees with wires to protect active pets.
7. Get to know your gift-givers. Before placing gifts under the tree, be sure that the package does not contain food items that may cause your pet to open the present and eat what’s inside.
8. Have guests protect your pet, too. Ask guests to keep their food, gum, etc. out of the reach of your pet to avoid poisonous incidents.

For more tips, visit the SPCA website at www.lovemyspca.com.