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| "Bailey Puggins" by DaPuglet is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 |
For many people, pets are a member of the family, rather than a household companion. As there are hazards for children around the holidays, the same is true for pets. What household hazards should you be aware of this time of year? Keep these guidelines, courtesy of Apartment Therapy, in mind as you decorate your apartment for the holidays!
1. Avoid mistletoe and holly: While these decorations are fun and festive, they are poisonous to both cats and dogs. Go fake if you must have them around.
2. Opt for a fake tree if you have cats: While the toxicity levels in most fir trees isn't high enough to harm a dog, it can be high enough to cause stomach irritation and vomiting in a cat. Also, most cats can't digest pine needles, which isn't pleasant for pet or owner.
3. If you go real, cover that water: The most hazardous part of a real tree for dogs is the water bowl. There are countless pesticides and fertilizers in that water, which can be deadly to dogs.
4. Tape down cords: If you've trained your cats and dogs to avoid electronics, this isn't as much of an issue, but new things like twinkling bulbs can always cause crazy behavior in animals. Training tips can be found here, but if you find your little creatures are getting curious around those holiday twinkle lights, cover them with electrical tape and adhere to the floor to avoid electrocution.
5. Hire a smart and attentive sitter: When hiring a sitter over the holidays, let them know to look for signs of danger like broken bulbs or chewed cords and give them your vet's information just in case. If they know what to look for, they can step in and help in an emergency.
Of course, if your pet does a banner job of staying out of trouble, be sure to get them a stocking full of treats.
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