7 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holidays

You already know chocolate is dangerous for cats and dogs. But did you know about other toxic foods for dogs, like bread dough, grapes and raisins, and any candy with the artificial sweetener xylitol? Cookie dough is also a holiday hazard for pets, so be careful about leaving the kitchen when you're in the middle of your next holiday baking session. And while many people like to enjoy a drink during the holidays, alcohol is a definite no-no for your pets. This includes cakes or any other dishes made with alcohol, such as fruit cake or rum cake. Ensure your pet stays well by doing the following:

• Don't feed your pets food scraps. Nothing puts pounds on a pet like table scraps, plus turkey and chicken bones can choke dogs.
• Keep bowls of candy and chocolate well out of your pet's reach.
• Secure the trash so curious pets can't forage for food scraps.

Cats love to play with dangly ornaments and decorations. Keep their curiosity in check with the following tips:

• Choose Christmas tree ornaments carefully, and avoid those made of glass, containing small detachable parts or covered in toxic paint. If you aren't sure if an ornament is pet-safe, either hang it out of your pet's reach or leave it off the tree completely. Decorate the bottom of your tree with nonbreakable, nontoxic items.
• Don't decorate with edible ornaments, such as candy canes, Christmas cookies, popcorn garlands or cranberry strands. They make pets sick, and your dog may knock over the tree while attempting to reach them.
• Say no to tinsel. Even if you only decorate the upper branches of your tree with tinsel, it can fall to lower branches and the floor. When swallowed, it can block your pet's intestines.
• Keep snow globes on the mantle or a high shelf so your dog can't break them with a wag of his tail. This classic decoration often contains antifreeze that, although sweet-tasting, is deadly to pets.
• Stockings are usually filled with sweets and small gifts, so hang them high enough that your pets can't reach them.

Shop some of our favorite Christmas decorations and ornaments.

While amaryllis, poinsettias, holly, mistletoe and other plants can enhance your holiday spirit, many of our favorite holiday plants are actually toxic to pets. Make sure you're decorating with faux plants or plants safe for cats and plants safe for dogs, such as spider plants, American violets or Boston ferns instead.

Remember to keep your pet's interest top-of-mind. While the holidays can be a busy time, it's easy to keep your pet happy and content:

• Play with them, take them on long walks and provide them with healthy treats and stimulating toys. A bored pet is more likely to get into mischief, like eating toxic foods for dogs, so keep them active and entertained.
• Vary your pet's routine as little as possible. Keep their walks, feed and play times, and naps on a regular schedule.
• Confine your pet to an unused room or crate. Some of your guests may be uncomfortable or afraid around pets, while your pet may be nervous or frightened by a large group of unfamiliar people. Ensure a comfortable situation for both by keeping your pet safely confined.
• Need another reason to give your dog a safe space away from the hustle and bustle of the holidays? An enclosed room or crate will also keep your guests from sneaking them extra treats. Your friends and family may not know the dangers of toxic foods for dogs such as chocolate or candy sweetened with xylitol.

If your home is where people gather for the holidays, you'll want to make sure your driveway, sidewalk and porch are free of ice and snow. Just be careful using antifreeze, rock salt, ice melt or other chemicals around your pets, as they can lead to serious medical complications.

• The chemical ethylene glycol is toxic for dogs and cats.
• Rock salt can get lodged in your pet's paws, causing them to lick and ingest the salt, which can lead to nausea and vomiting.
• Here are some products to melt ice that are safe for your pets.