9 Christmas Tree Pet Safety Tips

If you have seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you probably recall the tragic scene where Clark goes into the living room to find the string lights on the Christmas tree are out. After noticing the plugs are disconnected, he then goes to plug them back into the outlet, and unbeknownst to him, Aunt Bethany’s cat (which she brought as a gift) has the other end of the lights under the chair. This conundrum brings an ill-fated finale to the furry feline, for comedy’s sake. However, there is often truth in comedy, and this scene reveals the actual added dangers the holiday and all of its décor can create for pets. We hope these holiday pet safety tips will keep your furry friends happy and healthy while the halls are decked with boughs of holly (which is surprisingly toxic to animals, by the way).

9 Essential Christmas Tree Pet Safety Tips:

1. Find a safe corner for your Christmas tree. This way, it is more blocked off from your pet’s curiosity. If this doesn’t work and your dog or cat still jumps onto the tree, you can place bells or some other audible object (aluminum foil, a plastic drink bottle filled with pebbles), or anything else that creates noise on the tree’s bottom limbs to alert you of an approaching tree calamity.
2. Sweep up fallen tree needles regularly. These are sharper than you know, and can easily get stuck in a pet’s paw or throat. They can also injure the lining of your pet’s intestines. Plus, they can be toxic if ingested by your cat or dog.
3. Skip the tinsel and ribbon. While sparkly and stunning, these tree decorations are not for homes with pets, unless you hang them up out of your pet’s reach. According to veterinarians*, pets are notorious for eating tinsel and ribbon, which can potentially block their intestines. You don’t want to spend your holiday with a pet undergoing emergency surgery.
4. Ornaments and baubles will always look like toys to pets; their round shape reminds them of balls. The small size is another misleading visual that makes your pets want to play! All ornaments need to be kept out of reach, and made from unbreakable material.
5. Never let your pet drink tree water from the tree stand. Sap and other toxic preservatives can harm your pet.
6. Avoid edible tree decorations. Whether they be candy canes, cranberry or popcorn strings, they are an invitation to disaster for pets. These treats are enticing and your pet will surely tug at them, try to eat them, or get their collar entangled in the string, and potentially knock over your[…]

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