Christmas decorations - 5 tips to keep your pet safe

Each year we see some unusual household pet injuries but it is particularly unfortunate when accidents occur around Christmas time. Here are five simple tips to help keep your pet safe and your Christmas decorations looking pristine.

1. Safe and secure – tree top ambitions

If you have a kitten or cat who loves to climb, make sure your Christmas tree is safely secured to the ground and cannot easily topple.

2. Power cords – ohh so chewy

Dazzling lights maybe a feature of most houses and Christmas trees during the Christmas season however cords are best kept neat, tidy and out of sight from kittens and puppies. If your puppy or kitten is teething and chewing please be extra cautious with extension leads as they are wonderfully soft and highly desirable chew objects.

2. Power cords – ohh so chewy

Dazzling lights maybe a feature of most houses and Christmas trees during the Christmas season however cords are best kept neat, tidy and out of sight from kittens and puppies. If your puppy or kitten is teething and chewing please be extra cautious with extension leads as they are wonderfully soft and highly desirable chew objects.

3. Sharp objects and ornaments

For a bored pet, a Christmas tree will look more like a storage facility for 100 tennis balls of all different shapes and sizes. It’s a good idea to inspect your ornaments for sharp objects such as pins and exposed hooks. If your pet does take the opportunity to entertain themselves at least you can reduce the risk of them ingesting anything nasty.

4. Tinsel and wide ribbons – did someone say ball of string?

All of a sudden your cat’s favourite ball of string has just turned into a more attractive and much shinier proposition! Tinsel and large lengths of ribbon can play havoc in the intestines once digested. If your cat is particularly interested in lengths of string, then close supervision or restricted areas may be required.

5. Presents – did someone forget to tell the dog presents are for Christmas day?

Unopened presents, particularly those with pleasing aromas (like chocolates) can provide hours of enjoyment for an inquisitive pet. If your pet is unsupervised, it might be an idea to ask Santa to leave the presents out on Christmas Eve instead of days or weeks before. No one wants a trip to the vet with concerns of chocolate toxicity.