Brewster veterinarian, Dr. Allison Glassman, wants her neighbors to safeguard their pets from the many holiday hazards they face during this wonderful season. Requirements for quality veterinary services increase during the holidays, because there are so many potential dangers to your pets.

Even bringing your pets to visit friends and family during the holidays can expose them to dangerous conditions or items. Seemingly innocent--and safe--decorations can pose serious danger to your dog or cat. Keep your pets out of harm's way during your holiday season events.

Common Holiday Items Can Mean Frightening Trips to a Pet Hospital

Festive items, such as tinsel, gift wrapping, ribbon, and ornaments, are pet magnets. Ingesting even small pieces of these otherwise harmless things can cause you to visit an emergency vet, always at an inconvenient time. Making an unscheduled trip to your animal hospital will not top your holiday wish list.

Holiday lights and extension cords are another common source of pet injuries. Your dog or cat may find these very interesting, the result of which may also be a nasty electrical shock injury. Check cords for signs of bite marks and always use three-prong "grounded" cords to protect your pet from unwelcome and dangerous surprises.

Candy and hot chocolate that comes in contact with your pets can cause serious internal distress or, even, death. Be diligent when you are entertaining young children, who have a propensity to "share" their goodies with your pet. Toxic doses of chocolate can be as small as three ounces of their dangerous ingredient, theobromine.

Colorful poinsettias and mistletoe abound in holiday homes. While poinsettias are not heavily toxic to pets, mistletoe can require an emergency visit to your pet hospital. Pets ingesting mistletoe can suffer vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, and, possibly, shock or death. Even poinsettias have a milky sap that can irritate your pet's mouth, necessitating a trip to an emergency vet.

Protect your pets from harm during the holiday season. Avoiding emergency veterinary care will translate to more holiday joy for you and your animal family member.

What extra precautions do you take with your pets during the holidays?