Holiday Pet Safety

Aha! They finally put the Christmas tree up. Should I poop on the skirt or try to pull down those lights first? Oh, lookie, a dangling bulb. What to do? What to do? Wait. What’s that? Holly. So pretty. Maybe I should give it a nibble? Whoa. The plug leading to those candles in the window looks absolutely delish. So much to do so little time. Where should I start? ...Sound familiar? Yep, it does to us, too. If you're like us, you're used to a lot of changes during the holiday season. Decorations, seeing people you hardly ever see... you get the point. And because there are so many changes, it's easy to forget how vital holiday pet safety is... like, it really is. But lucky for you, we've got some tips.

Welcome to the holiday season with an animal. It’s a virtual wonderland of new things for your furry friend to see. And, unfortunately, to chew.

Even if your home has been meticulously proofed, invest the time to re-proof after you’ve put up your tree and other decorations. Because every day pet safety vs. holiday pet safety is vastly different. Plus, your pet's life could depend on it.

What’s a lovely holiday tradition for us two-legged family members sure does look like an oversized chew toy for animals. But unfortunately, that means it's a direct target for excited little teeth.

Whether you have a natural or artificial Christmas tree, you'll have to animal-proof it. However, if you have a real tree, make sure you know whether it's been treated with fire retardants, pesticides, or other dangerous chemicals. If it has, keep your animal far away from the tree as chewing it can prove hazardous.

No dangerous chemicals? It should, according to the House Rabbit Society, be safe to chew. Artificial Christmas trees? Not so safe.

Keep ornaments and light strands from the lower branches, where your animal can easily reach them (even standing on their legs).

Stop your animal before the thought of nibbling on those interesting electrical wires ever crosses their mind. Unfortunately, the holiday season usually means far more wires than usual. Still, you've got a few choices for protecting them from rascally teeth.

OPTION 1: This is one we've all tried, and that just might work if your animal isn't an expert climber or contortionist. Put the wires high enough so your pet can’t reach them. And that means she shouldn’t be able to jump onto a table or another surface to chew on them.

OPTION 2: You can opt for popular cord protectors sold in various Lowes and Home Depot stores.

Keep your small animals safe and happy this holiday season by ensuring all your decorations are thoroughly safety proofed. Don't forget that you can also keep your small animal away from the tree and other decorations by offering plenty of fun and safe chew toys. Need some ideas??