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With smart planning, the holidays can be a joyous time for people and their pets.

KING, N.C. (November 28, 2018) — Shining decorations, bright lights and sweet treats—these hallmarks of the holiday season can also pose hazards for pets. This year, Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, advises pet owners to consider their pets when carrying out their holiday plans.

“With the excitement of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget that not all traditions are a good fit for pets,” warned PSI President Patti J. Moran.

PSI encourages pet owners to take three important precautions this holiday season.

1. Decorate with pets’ safety in mind. Many holiday decorations can be hazardous to pets, so PSI offers these safety tips:

• Will you have a live Christmas tree? Pine tree water can be poisonous, so it is best to use an enclosed tree stand. If that is not possible, be sure to cover open tree stand bases. Secure the tree to the wall with strong wire or twine, so it won’t topple and cause serious injuries to pets.
• Ingesting—or even simply coming in contact with—ornaments and hooks, twinkling lights and electrical wiring can pose significant danger to pets. When no one will be around to supervise, unplug lights and any electrical decorations a pet has access to. Cover or tack down electrical cords.
• To avoid pets being burned or causing a fire hazard, keep them away from any room containing a lit Hanukkah menorah or holiday candle.
• Keep holiday game pieces, such as the dreidel, out of paw’s reach to avoid accidental ingestion.
• Holiday plants that are poisonous to pets include the berries of the mistletoe, holly, hibiscus, Christmas roses and the poinsettia. Keep them out of pets’ reach.

2. Don’t let food ruin your pet’s holiday. Food is another culprit for some of the most common holiday pet emergencies. PSI recommends pet owners be cautious of the following:

• Dark and baker’s chocolate. While milk chocolate is not poisonous, it will cause a pet to have an upset stomach. However, dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate contain high levels of theobromine and caffeine. Animals are extremely sensitive to both, and ingesting either type of chocolate could be fatal.
• Xylitol. This sugar substitute causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. This poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly.
• Macadamia nuts. Dogs experience severe weakness in their back legs, appearing paralyzed, after ingesting macadamia nuts. Dogs usually recover from this condition within three days.
• Bread dough. When bread dough is ingested it continues to rise, causing an intestinal blockage.
• Latkes and sufganiyot. Pets’ ingestion of these Hanukkah treats could result in a variety of gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea, and some ingredients can have more dangerous consequences. The onions in latkes, for example, can cause Heinz body anemia in both cats and dogs.

If a pet ingests any potentially harmful product, pet owners should call a veterinarian or a local emergency animal hospital immediately.

3. Give your pet the gift of quality pet care. If holiday errands or trips will keep pet owners away from home, professional pet sitters offer the best pet-care solution—but pet owners should book without delay. PSI recently surveyed nearly 1,000 professional pet sitters and found that 65 percent say they are usually fully booked for holiday pet-sitting visits at least two to three weeks prior to the holiday.

“Knowing that a beloved pet can enjoy the stress-free environment of its own home this holiday season can provide great peace of mind for pet owners,” said Moran. “But, it’s important that pet owners understand what to look for and what questions to ask when selecting a professional pet sitter.”

To find a professional pet sitter in your area and to download a free pet-sitter interview checklist, visit www.petsit.com/locate. To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com.

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