Christmastime can present a lot of hazards for the family pet

Christmas may still be a few weeks away, but many people are starting to decorate for the holidays and that can spell trouble for the family pet.

Meranda Dussault, with the Vernon branch of the BC SPCA, said there are precautions people should take to keep their pets safe.

Dussault said the shiny decorations can catch the attention of cats and dogs and ingesting decorations like tinsel can be harmful and even fatal to the family pet.

Chocolate is poisonous to pets and bones from chickens and turkeys can splinter causing serious harm or even death.

People should also be careful when discarding the bones, lest Fido dig them out of the garbage can.

According to the BC SPCA, a number of holiday plants are poisonous to animals. This includes mistletoe, holly, ornamental pepper and Christmas rose. Be sure these plants stay out of the reach of pets — especially birds. Contrary to popular belief, Poinsettias are not poisonous to pets or people. However, some pets may have a sensitivity.

Avoid purchasing pet toys with small or soft pieces that can be chewed and swallowed. Nylon bones tend to splinter less than plastic ones. You should be inspecting your pet’s toys regularly and discarding deteriorating ones.

And of course, the Christmas tree can be a source of attraction for cats that like to climb them and bat at the shiny things they hold.

For more information, go to the BC SPCA website.