Try out these suggestions to keep your four-legged friends safe all season long.

The holidays are a time for family and fun but, during this time, it's important that you don't forget about the wellbeing of your furry family members. It's important to remember that the holidays pose certain risks for your pets. To protect them this season, here are some pet safety tips you should employ. Decoration Safety

• Ornaments: When your pets see ornaments, they may think they are toys. This could encourage them to play with them, and potentially ingest them or cut themselves. To ensure that your pets do not hurt themselves, hang tree ornaments high enough so your pets cannot reach them.
• Tinsel/Ribbon/Wrapping Paper: Much like ornaments, pets may be interested in these holiday decorations. Unfortunately, if ingested, these items can cause serious digestive issues and will require immediate veterinary attention. To keep your pets safe, limit your usage of these decorations and, when you do use them, do your best to keep them out of your pets' reach.
• Decorative Plants: Many holiday plants, such as lilies, mistletoe, poinsettias, holly, and pine are toxic to animals. If consumed, they can cause irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and more life-threatening conditions. When using these types of plants to decorate, keep them in places where your pets cannot easily access them.

Candles, Lights, and Electrical Safety

• Candles and Fireplaces: Any type of open flame can pose a risk to your furry friends. If you are using lit candles, place them in high spots on sturdy bases where your pets cannot reach or accidentally knock them over. When lighting up your fireplace, keep your screen closed and your pets out of the immediate area to prevent a rogue ember from burning them.
• Lights, Wires, and Electrical Cords: Pets may confuse lights and cords with toys. If they chew these wires, they could shock themselves or accidentally create a fire risk. To ensure that this doesn't happen, keep electrical components out of your pets' reach or cover them so your pet does not have easy access to them.

Food Safety

• There are two major types of food you should avoid feeding your pets this season; high-fat foods and toxic foods. Fatty foods can lead to the inflammation of your pets' pancreas, which can prove life-threatening in some cases. Should your pet consume toxic foods, they may experience major health problems and should be taken to the vet immediately. Avoid feeding your four-legged-friends the following foods.
  • High-fat foods to avoid:
    • Turkey
    • Buttery/fried foods
    • Stuffing (if prepared with butter or whole milk)
    • Gravy
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
  • Toxic foods to avoid:
    • Uncooked bread dough
    • Onions
    • Raisins and grapes
    • Xylitol (sugar substitute found in gum, candies, and some types of peanut butter)
    • Certain spices and oils (such as sage)
    • Chocolate

These are some of the suggestions you should try to keep your pets safe this holiday season. Want another way to keep your pets and the rest of your family members safe? Make sure you have the proper personal insurance protections in place.  For assistance with all your coverage needs, contact the experts at East End Insurance Agency to get started today.