KCBS Animal Update: Holiday Safety For Pets

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— With the holiday season upon us, there are different potential dangers that pet owners should be aware of. Dr. Jennifer Scarlett of the San Francisco SPCA talks about common issues including; overly-rich foods, toxic decorations, and an abundance of guests.

"As a veterinarian, that's the number one thing that we see are animals coming in with digestive upset," Scarlett said.

Mistletoe, holly and poinsettias can pose potential threats to your pets too, the latter being toxic when ingested. You'll definitely want to keep those out of their reach.

When it comes to your Christmas tree, cats love tinsel. While you may admire how it looks, cats tend to swallow it, which is unfortunate because it can be life-threatening for them.

If your pet is rowdy, you'll probably also want to secure your tree so it doesn't get knocked over during play. Also if you're planning on going out of town for the holidays, think about where your pet is going to be so you have time to make arrangements with a sitter or boarding before things book up.

If you end up hosting family and friends, consider how your pet interacts around them. Are they upset or nervous when people come over? And remember to remind your guests not to feed them from the table.

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