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SUNDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- It''s a hectic, happy season for humans, but the upcoming holidays bring new hazards for Fido and Fluffy.
Experts at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine offers the following tips for a safe and healthy holiday for pets and their owners:
- Groups of holiday guests can cause pets to become overexcited, confused or frightened. Keep pets in a quiet part of the house and ensure they have their bed or kennel in a safe area that allows them to retreat from children and other over-eager visitors. Make sure your guests know this safe area is off-limits.
- Chocolate poses a serious pet-poisoning risk, especially for dogs. If a dog eats chocolate, call a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center immediately.
- If pets eat tinsel, it can cause the intestines to bunch up and may even cut through the intestinal wall. Both problems could be fatal.
- Some animals may chew electrical cords, putting them at risk of serious burns or electric shock.
- Horns, bells, whistles, fireworks and other noisemakers can terrify pets. Make sure they''re in a safe place away from such noises.
- Keep valuable ornaments and family heirlooms out of the reach of curious pets'' mouths, noses and wagging tails. Knick-knacks should be on shelves that are inaccessible to animals. Tether your Christmas tree to a wall or window frame in order to keep it stable in case a cat or other pet climbs up the tree.
- Keep lit candles and decorative plants and greenery away from pets.
- Keep your pets on their normal diet. Don''t give them table scraps and don''t allow them to get into the garbage.
- The holidays are the worse time to bring new pets into your home. Wait until after the holiday so that the pet can be introduced into a safe, quite environment.
More information
The British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association has more about holidays and your pet.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Purdue University, news release, November 2005
Last Updated: Dec. 4, 2005 | 
