Check Your List For Pet Safety

Holidays are a special time for friends and family. Since pets are a part of the family, make sure your holiday is pet friendly.

Hartz veterinarian Jill Richardson has some tips to bear in mind when getting your house ready.

Mistletoe or holly can be harmful if ingested by your pet. Keep these plants out of reach.
Lilies, which are often used in holiday arrangements and bouquets, can be very dangerous for your cat. Certain types of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, even in small amounts.
Make your holiday decorations pet-safe. Avoid glass ornaments, which can break and cut tiny paws.
Dangling electrical cords can be enticing to curious pets, especially rabbits, kittens and puppies. If electrical cords are chewed, they could electrocute your pet.
Keep batteries away from pets. Batteries contain caustic material and if ingested, can cause chemical burns on the tongue, mouth, muzzle, and stomach of your pet.

Richardson also offered tips for the kitchen, where pet owners may be tempted to give table scraps from holiday meals to their pets as a special treat.

Excessively rich or fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis, an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.
Chocolate can cause increased heart rate, tremors, or excitation, depending on the type and the quantity ingested.
Ingestion of uncooked bread dough can be life-threatening. The animal's body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach. Alcohol is produced during the rising process, and the dough may expand several times its original size.
Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs when eaten in quantity.
Other potentially dangerous food items for pets include moldy or spoiled foods, coffee grounds, onions, alcoholic beverages, macadamia nuts (for dogs), and avocado (for birds).
Keep your pet birds safe from kitchen hazards too. Birds are extremely sensitive to any strong odor or smoke. Smoke from burning foods or overheated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated cookware can be deadly for birds.

Richardson also said people need to keep their pets in mind when hosting a holiday party. Unfamiliar guests can make some pets very nervous. If your pet does not do well with crowds and loud noise, make sure you set aside a safe and quiet haven for it to retreat to, if necessary. Make sure to bring your pet fresh water, food, toys, litter box, and pet bed so your pet can relax during the party. Toys offer a multitude of activities for pets and will help to reduce anxiety and relieve boredom.

For those who want to give gifts to their pets -- or other pet lovers -- Richardson suggests the four Fs: food (rawhide, bones, natural treats), fashion (fashionable collars or leashes), fitness (balls, plush toys, catnip, interactive toys), and fun (seasonally inspired toys and treats).