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

Secure Your Tree

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

Power Cables

Glittering lights are 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.

Sharp Ornaments

For a bored pet, a Christmas tree will look more like a storage facility for toys and 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 themself at least you can reduce the risk of them ingesting anything nasty.

Tinsel and Ribbon

Tinsel and large lengths of ribbon can play havoc in the intestines once digested. If your cat is particularly interested in playing with lengths of string, then close supervision maybe required.

Presents

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.

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