Holiday Items That Are Dangerous to Pets

It's the most wonderful time, of the year.. that is if you can keep your dog from drinking the tree water. There are so many hazards around the holidays. Especially where our pets are concerned. With just a few precautions you can you can make this season as merry as it can be for all creatures great and small.

But first, a cautionary tale, involving one very curious cat, some candles, and umm.. his tail.

The above video, shared by the TikTok account for @northwesthavenart11 just showed one of the many things that people have around their home for the holidays that can be dangerous to pets. @Sloan summed it up best with, "Remember that one Christmas the cat caught on fire?" will now be said every Christmas at your house for the rest of your life. " Thankfully, this cat was okay but it's a great reminder that candles, matches and cats don't mix.

Now that you've thrown all of those items in your trash can in a panic, you also should be aware of the following.

Related: Cat Caught on Home Camera Festively 'Un-decorating' the Christmas Tree

9 Holiday Items That Are Dangerous to Pets

9: Poinsettias. 

Beautiful and festive poinsettias can cause mild oral irritation and gastrointestinal distress to both cats and dogs. The last thing you want to do on Christmas eve is clean your carpets. The same goes for holly and mistletoe.

8: Rock salt. 

Not a strictly holiday item, but when winter arrives and the streets gets slippery the rock salt comes out. if you or a family member are taking Fido around the block to see the Christmas lights, make sure you clean his paws after because rock salt can cause stomach problems if consumed. 

7: Tinsel

As much as I adore these glittery strands of silver, my cats adore eating them even more. According to Pet MD, Tinsel strands are difficult to chew and do not break down in the gastrointestinal tract. They are surprisingly strong and can become lodged under the tongue or within the stomach or intestine, where they can cause an obstruction or cut through the lining of the digestive tract. This goes for both dogs and cats. Which brings us to our next typical holiday item..

6: Ribbons. 

Just like tinsel above, the plastic ribbons that bedeck our gifts can be hazardous to your pet's stomach if they eat them. And for some reason, cats love nothing more than eating the bows and ribbons on presents.

5: Chocolate. 

Most pet owners understand that chocolate can be harmful or even toxic to dogs, but come Christmas morning an excited child is bound to leave their stocking filled with chocolate snowman and Santas on the floor only for your dog to get into. Here's what you should do if your dog does eat chocolate.

4: String Lights.

This is more of an issue with kittens or young puppies who chew anything that they can get their mouths around, but a pet who gnaws on an electrical wire can cause electrical shock or oral burns.

3: Glass Ornaments.

If you're a cat owner, your cat has probably decided to knock an ornament or two down, and if you deck your halls with glass ornaments, you know what a disaster this can be. If one of your beautiful glass baubles shatters your cat or dog could injure their paws stepping on the glass, and for that matter, you could too. You are better off hanging unbreakable ornaments towards the bottom of the tree or double hanging your glass ornaments with ribbon in addition to ornament hooks.

Related: Dog Caught Unwrapping Presents Before Christmas Is Certainly on the Naughty List

2: Your mother and father. 

Yup, I said it, your parents, and I am not taking it back, especially if they don't own a dog or cat of their own. Listen, pets love grandma, and they should love grandma. Grandma is great. However, grandma is usually giving your dog turkey under the table and saying "One bite won't hurt him" until the dog yacks on your Christmas tree skirt, or leaving her purse on the floor so the dog can enjoy her Tic-Tacs and blood pressure medication. People who don't spend all day with a pet don't realize that dogs and cats get into everything. Plus, if they aren't used to having a pet and they open the door to someone and your dog runs out, well, blame Grandpa.

1: The Christmas tree . 

Chances are, you know all the lyrics to this Christmas carol if you own a cat, and it goes a little something like "Get out of the tree get out of the tree get out of the tree!" Whether it's real or faux, chances are your cat is gonna climb it, which could make it fall down which could injure your cat. There are many brilliant ways cat owners have dealt with their own cats trying to get into the Christmas tree, but your best bet is to secure your tree to the wall.

The holidays are such a fun and joyous time for humans and pets alike, you just have to make sure your cat or dog is safely enjoying all the season has to offer. And no one is offering them a lick of egg nog.

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