Keeping your pets safe this Christmas

BOWLING GREEN. Ky. – Christmas time can prove to be overstimulating for your pets and potentially dangerous, so you have to pay extra attention around the holidays to make sure they’re not damaging all your hard work or their health.

In particular, Ian Johnson at All Dogs & Cats Animal Hospital said that the water or Christmas tree itself can be a potential hazard if it’s a live one.

“Fire retardant is common on Christmas trees, and that’s toxic to animals, so you’re more than likely going to have a problem if they drank a ton of it versus just a little sip,” the vet told News 40.

In addition, Johnson said there wasn’t much harm in your pet just eating a twig, but if they start to eat more of the tree, it might be a good idea to seek medical attention.

He also said a hazard for cats is tinsel, as cats go for string body forms.

“They like things that are long and skinny to play around with. If eaten it can accordion on itself and won’t be able to pass through the GI system.”

We also spoke to some dog trainers as well, who encouraged verbal “negative markers,” such as “aht” or “nope” to discourage your pet from getting into your holiday garb. Yvonne Bell, the owner of Pet Stop, said you never want to damage the bond between you and your animal and to remain calm when trying to discipline them.

Tyler Boyer, owner of The Working Pup, said in his interview that you should reinforce your dog’s behavior after telling them no. When they look at you, proceed to give a positive reinforcement, such as a treat, to condition them to listen to you better.

He also advocated for prevention. Just keeping the dog or cat away from the tree or other decorations is a big help. Boyer said the baby gate can be your bestfriend as it’s not just for human babies, it can be for dogs too. As far as cats who are a bit more finnicky, he said they’re more susceptible to sprays like water or flavored sprays to keep them from biting on things.