Safety Measures for Our Furry Friends

The holidays are once again upon us, bringing all the excitement we love. Our pets will also share in the festive joy of this season. However, there are a few important safety measures to bear in mind for your furry friends as our homes fill with tempting feasts and decorations.

Bones - Remember that bones, whether from a turkey, ham, goose or other type of holiday feast can be deadly to your pets. Cats and dogs cannot digest bones - which means they can easily become lodged in the digestive system. Do not feed your pets the bones from the family feast, and, after you have prepared the feast for serving, be sure to securely wrap the carcass in tinfoil and take it out to the garbage - away from curious noses and stomachs.

Chocolate - On the sweeter side of the food concerns, exists chocolate. Pets, especially dogs, will not hesitate to open wrapped boxes of chocolates and then proceed, with vacuum cleaner speed, to devour them. Chocolate can poison your dog. So, be smart about where you leave it.

Tree Decorations - Our Christmas trees wear such beautiful decorations, however, some of them are a danger to both cats and dogs. Arrange all breakable glass ornaments out of reach and do not ever use tinsel if your family includes a cat.

Poinsettia - Another popular decoration that brightens our winter home is the poinsettia plant. Poinsettias appear quite tasty to our furry children. Unfortunately, for all of their beauty, they are extremely poisonous. Keep them out of reach of pets when they are out on display.

Fire - Lastly, a warm glow in the hearth or the glow of candles often accompanies a festive gathering. Not all of our pets are well versed in fire safety and can even be curious about what a flame is. So keep fires in a safe and contained area away from furry paws and whiskers.

With these words of caution, we hope that your family - both human and furry - will take pleasure in the beauty of the upcoming holidays. Remember to take a moment to recognize the love of all those around you, a moment to understand how truly wondrous our world can be, and a moment to be thankful for this gift of life. After all that is the true celebration.