Keeping your furry friends safe this holiday season

The holiday season can be a stressful time for most of us — shopping for that perfect cashmere sweater for mom, baking endless batches of cookies, and decking out the house so that it resembles a Martha Stewart magazine spread — can leave one exhausted.

But during this hectic time it is important not to overlook our four legged friends who may face many dangers this time of year. Most of us know to keep that enticing box of chocolate way out of Fluffy and Shadow's reach, however there are many other things posing a risk to our pets.

A few simple strategies can ensure that you and your pet both enjoy the holidays.

Krista Kotowicz, animal lover and resident of Wantage makes sure she keeps her Poinsettias out of reach from her pets.

"Keep them up high because they can be poisonous to our friendly four legged creatures," she says.

The vibrant, red leafed plant that takes center stage this time of year contains a milky white sap which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats. Other plants that can be threatening include holly, mistletoe, and lilies, a popular flower in floral arrangements. Lilies can cause gastronomical damage to cats so take care in keeping holiday arrangements out of their reach.

Alice Rembish of Wantage advises cat owners to keep turkey bones away from felines as they can splinter and cause choking and esophageal damage.

"I also keep wrapping paper and ribbon away from my cats because the paper may be toxic and ribbon, although very enticing to a cat, can become entangled in the intestines," she warns.

Cats and dogs are not the only pets that are at risk for injury during this festive time. Small critters such as rabbits can get themselves into trouble if precautions are not put into place.

Keeley Barry, a passionate owner of two rabbits named Calamity and Jay-bunn, has to be careful what she leaves out, since she enjoys letting her pets play outside of their cages.

"Bunnies are like magnets to ribbons and for years I have not been able to leave wrapped Christmas gifts underneath the tree because my bunnies will not only tear open the gifts, but consume the ribbons and bows as well," she shares.

"I treat my bunnies like humans; they even have their own room, but I realize most rabbit owners can't do that, so it's important to keep hazards away from small animals and take the time to consider their safety," Barry adds.

Barry counts on her veterinarians to give guidelines on what is considered a safety threat to her animals.

Dr. Jon Bertoldo and his staff at The Animal Mansion in Columbia put together a list of things that can make an animal sick and gives advice on how to keep your home pet friendly during the season.

"Do not use any tinsel whatsoever, pick up all wrapping paper and make sure all twisty ties which are used to package children's toys are accounted for," they say. "Try to use shatterproof ornaments when possible and don't leave ribbon out. Most people know chocolate is deadly but there are other less known dangers which include onions, grapes and chicken bones."

The Animal Mansion also advises against giving your pet leftovers from the table.

"Fatty dishes, especially those prepared with gravy can cause Pancreatitis in animals," the staff says. "Also, if you plan on leaving cookies for Santa we advise against chocolate chip, a dog can easily get at the dish after everyone has gone to bed."

Dr. Ted Spinks, VMD of The Animal Hospital of Sussex County, located in Augusta, shares a wealth of information to residents; helping them keep their dogs and cats safe not only around the holidays, but all year round.

"Sugarless gum and grapes are very toxic to animals and can cause neurological deficits," says Spinks. A symptom of poisoning can be disorientation and Spinks advises getting your pet help right away.

"Another big problem I see is the tinsel which in the 1950's was made with lead.. obviously its not anymore, it's made from plastic but that is still harmful," says Spinks. "I also see a lot of emergencies over pets ingesting foreign bodies that can come from squeaky pet toys so make sure before you give your pet a present it is non toxic and does not have pieces which can break off."

Spinks also says that folks who do not own animals can pose a danger to pets as they may be unaware of safety guidelines and inadvertently give leftovers such as chicken bones and gravy to their friends and families pets. It is best to tell guest not to feed your pets from the dinner table.

Puppies and kittens are often popular gifts to give to family members and Spinks stresses to residents to keep electrical cords away from the young animal since they love to chew on cords.

"We see cases of electrocution during this time of year, so make sure your pet can't get under the tree and into cords," he shares.

Spinks also recommends the website caringvets.com. On this web site, a pet owner who's animal accidentally consumed chocolate, can use a special calculator which can determine if your pet ate a toxic level of chocolate based on the pets weight and the amount and type of chocolate consumed.

With a little extra planning, both humans and animals can enjoy this magical time of year... safely.