The holidays are a time to decorate and share good times with friends and family. However, the same treats and trimmings considered harmless for humans could be a serious health risk for their pets. The ASPCA is offering pet owners some helpful hints to help their pets happy, healthy and stress free:

- Your pets are not garbage disposals for holiday leftovers. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages, chocolates are poisonous, and any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals that have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements.

- If your pet is used to eating leftovers, make sure to feed them meat without rich sauces or spices; fresh vegetables are a good alternative. Candy and sugar may give your pet diarrhea or intestinal problems.

- Crowds and holiday festivities can frighten some animals. If your pet does not do well with crowds and loud noise, make sure you set aside a safe and quiet haven for him to retreat to if necessary.

- If you are a cat owner, remember that cats are creatures of habit. Disruptions in the home during the holidays, such as rearranging the furniture, could cause your feline to stop using the litter box.

- Be careful with holiday decorations. Common Yuletide plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, ivy, and holly berries can be poisonous, or even fatal. Make sure you place your Christmas and Hanukkah candles in places where your pets can’t over turn them and possibly burn themselves and your home.

- Some animals, especially kittens and puppies like to chew on exposed wiring, which could electrocute your pet. Tape down loose wires to baseboards and hide wiring as much as possible.

- Dogs and cats can be allowed to romp through discarded wrapping paper and boxes, but remove bows and yarn. Cut away shopping bag handles on bags, which small dogs and cats can easily choke on. Keep aluminum foil away from your animals, which can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.

- Cats often see trees as fabulous climbing posts. Remember to position your Christmas tree on a wide, flat, and stable base. You may want to anchor the tree with fishing line to a window or the wall and make sure that you decorate with animal-safe items such as dried flowers, pine cones, or fabric and wood ornaments. Tinsel, ribbons, and popcorn strands if swallowed can be deadly to pets. Glass balls can shatter in an animal’s mouth, and if swallowed, can cut the tissues of the intestinal system.

- Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also be a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea. Make sure a skirt or a cloth covers the bottom of the tree.

- Antifreeze Alert! Antifreeze has a pleasant taste. It also contains ethylene glycol, which can cause rapid and permanent kidney damage to your pet if he ingests even a very small amount. As little as one teaspoon can be deadly for an average size cat, which can ingest the chemical just by wandering through an antifreeze puddle and then cleaning his paws. Less than four teaspoons can be dangerous to a 10-lb. dog, which can be lapped up easily from a puddle on the garage floor. Clean up any spills, and store antifreeze in a tightly closed contained in a closed cabinet.
Problem foods for Pets:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Coffee (grounds, espresso beans)
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, onion powder
- Salt
- Yeast Dough
-Raisins and Currants

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org