Keep pets and family safe during holidays

As today dawns, the hectic pace of the Christmas holiday is behind us, yet in its afterglow, is the mess, piles of presents to be put away, decorations to be disassembled and packed up and lingering company to entertain.

With all the anticipation and anxiety leading into the holidays, it’s somewhat remarkable that on the other side there’s more work, and yes, stress before it’s all said and done.

In the midst of Christmas recovery mode and heading into New Years, there is sure to be the odd box of half-eaten chocolates left on a table or a 20,000-piece bead kit forgotten on the floor by a distracted youngster — and the trouble begins.

It begins the moment the tree is brought into the house — the epitome of temptation with all its glorious lights, dangling pretties and handy water bowl — only to be compounded by new décor surround by puffy artificial snow and piles of colorfully wrapped boxes.

On top of decorations, there is an array of plants, foods, small objects and preoccupied humans that can be a recipe for disaster, from messes and destruction of heirloom ornaments to pain or injury for your beloved companion necessitating a trip to the veterinarian. With the added misfortune of costing top-dollar emergency prices.

During the holiday season, which stretches into early January, there are a few things to remember that will go a long way to keeping all your beloved family members pets safe and healthy:

• When house guests arrive, make sure they know the house routines regarding pets. Being made aware of things such as personality quirks, sensitivities and territory issues can prevent a lot of potential problems, stress and accidental injuries. Remember, it’s your pet’s home and your guests could easily rub them the wrong way without meaning to.

• Watch doors carefully. With heightened activity and people going in and out with arms full of packages, it’s easy for a pet to slip outside unnoticed, especially if it gets them out of a house full of noisy people they don’t know. It’s also an important time to be sure the critters have identification, be it microchips or a collar and ID tag.

• Instruct guests to keep medications and food items out of reach of curious pets. If there are male dogs in the household, it may also be a good idea to caution them against leaving luggage and other items within leg-hiking distance just in case the family pet decides to claim his territory.

• Exuberant children filled with sugar and overstimulated by new toys could easily stress, irritate or threaten family pets. Bites and scratches can happen in the blink of an eye, so don’t allow children and animals to interact unsupervised. It may even be best to isolate pets in quiet area to help them feel more comfortable.

• Keep candy dishes, baked goods and holiday food items out of reach. Dangerous things for dogs include alcoholic beverages, chocolate, raisins, grapes and candies and gums made with artificial sweeteners, all of which can send a dog to the veterinarian with critical and potentially life-threatening illness.

• Seasonal plants such as poinsettias are lethal to curious cats, so make sure to research any plants brought into the home for the holidays.

• Pet birds have sensitive respiratory systems. Keep them clear of things as simple as cooking vapors, spray fragrances and scented candles, which can be fatal.

Remember, though you may include them in the festivities, the holidays truly are for humans and the best gift you can give your pets is peace, quiet and safety.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]