Toxic Christmas Tree Water and Other Holiday Pet Dangers You Never Knew About

Whether you’re hosting a huge Christmas dinner or plan to spend New Years Eve cuddled up inside this year, your home is likely to be the setting of at least some of your holiday plans. You might be thinking about how to maximize your hosting capabilities to please the humans entering your space, but you shouldn’t forget your pets this season, either. Their comfort and safety is important, but the holiday season can be rough for them. Here are a few seasonal pet safety tips beyond the basics you already know, like keeping them away from your burning candles.

Holiday decor can be dangerous to pets

The first thing to do is to make sure your tree is anchored down well so it doesn’t topple over if your cat does decide to climb it or your dog gets the nighttime zoomies and runs into it. If that seems like kind of a given, this part isn’t: Keep pets away from the water base keeping your tree fresh. It can contain fertilizer or chemicals that can be harmful if your pet drinks from it. Tree water can also breed bacteria, which can give your pet nausea or diarrhea. Neither your pet nor your guests will love that. Make sure there are alternative water sources for your pets nearby.

Tinsel, too, is a risk, especially to cats, who love batting it around and nibbling on it. Swallowing tinsel can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, vomiting, dehydration, or maybe even surgery. The same goes for glass ornaments. If your pet isn’t a climber but still shows interest in your decor, put those items closer to the top of the tree.

Keep light wires well out of pets’ reach, as they can shock any animal that chews on them. If you don’t favor the plug-in kind, know that punctured batteries can burn their mouths and esophaguses. To protect animals from themselves and keep all your cords functional, during the holidays and year-round, try specialized cord deterrents. I’ve always used CritterCord ($16.99 for 10 feet) and found it to work great. Not only is it thick, to protect cords from teeth, but it is infused with a bitter taste that stops the animal from even continuing to try to bite through it.

Finally, if you have a fireplace and a dog, be wary of firestarter logs, says the Humane Society. Those can contain sawdust and paraffin, which could irritate doggie stomachs or even cause an intestinal blockage if eaten. Here’s a helpful guide for finding good, pet-safe firewood.

Holiday foods your pets should never eat

You probably already try to curb your dog’s begging at dinnertime, but the holiday season involves a lot of food, most of which you don’t get all year round, to say nothing of your hungry pooch. Still, resist the urge to throw your dog a literal bone from your holiday ham or turkey. It might seem harmless, but when chewed, bones can splinter and put your pet at risk of choking or suffering an intestinal injury.

Obviously, your dog should never, ever have chocolate. Here are a few other holiday foods you might not know your dog shouldn’t consume:

• Chives

• Anything containing citric acid

• Anything with a pit

• Raw eggs

• Fish

• Garlic

• Leaves and stems

• Nuts (safe in small quantities)

• Onions (including flakes and powder)

• Anything too salty

Holiday plants that are no good for animals

Nibbling on the Christmas tree can be a bad idea for a pet, as they may consume needles that can cause an intestinal obstruction. The needles can puncture the intestinal lining or bunch together in there and cause a blockage, neither of which is pleasant and both of which can be dangerous. You can sidestep this risk by getting a fake tree or not allowing your pet near your real one, especially if they’re young and/or a known nibbler.

The ASPCA also points out that if your pet eats holly, they can become nauseous, vomit, or have diarrhea. Mistletoe can lead to gastrointestinal upset or even cardiovascular problems and lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Finally, poinsettias are mildly toxic to pets, so if you’re planning to have some around for the season, keep them out of reach.