Our third tip as part of the Ten Tips [1] series involves Christmas decorations. I already talked about the dangers of sneaky snacks [2] and tumbling trees [3], but I'll discuss the ornaments that go on next:
- Tinsel. These shiny strings appeal to kitties and puppies alike. If pets eat this stuff, it can slice up their gastro-intestinal system or ball up and cause an internal blockage. Tinsel and other small items are extra difficult to see on x-rays, meaning that it may take some time to diagnose . . . time that your pet will not likely have.
- Hooks. Never use metal hooks to hang ornaments on trees in animal-filled homes. Pets could swallow it (think fishhook) or cut their paws if stepping or batting at these sharp objects. Try tying and looping ornaments on the tree with strings instead.
- Ornaments made of materials similar to their toys. Pets cannot distinguish between a furry or rubber pet toy, and a valuable Christmas ornament of the same makings. If you fear the decoration may confuse your pet, don't be a tease, and put it out of his reach.
- Breakable Decorations. If your dog decides to take a bite out of a ball that is actually a glass ornament, he'll obviously end up with a mouthful of glass and, if kitty takes a swipe, she can get the same bloody result. If you have fragile or valuable ornaments that you treasure (or animals in the house you're equally attached to), don't put either at risk – stock those ornaments in a box for pet-free times.
- "Distractions." Many kitty owners swear by the method of hanging appealing, safe cat toys at the base of their trees – this gives pets easy access to the proper items to play with, and hopefully discourages them from venturing any further!
To see the rest of my list,
Source [4]