The Christmas holiday season has finally come. Along with this joyful and overwhelming time of the year come gifts, traveling, decorations, family gatherings and other events that our companions aren't familiar with. Because of these stressful events, most people tend to overlook the winter hazards that our pets face during the winter. So here are a few reminders on how to keep your indoor and outdoor pets safe for the Christmas holidays.

Although Texas winters aren't too extreme, it's still best to make sure your outdoor pets are as comfortable as possible. If you have a pet that's strictly outdoors, be sure that they have a dry, warm place to lie. Providing a sturdy dog house with soft bedding or hay is the best option for most cold weather conditions. Sometimes the elements can be pretty harsh and it may be safer to bring them indoors until weather conditions are suitable. If you decide to bring them indoors and put them in the garage, be sure to store all automotive products in cabinets. Antifreeze (pleasant taste), gasoline and oil are all deadly if consumed, so please be careful.

The indoor cats or dogs have a greater chance of getting in trouble with owners as well as getting sick during this time of year. The decorated Christmas tree has many shiny, fun, and curious objects that can easily entice our pets. The safest tree is one that's tumble-proof or bolted to the wall. It's usually easier to just keep the tree in a separate room with a door. As we all know, our felines are great climbers and the new indoor tree, full of ribbons and ornaments, is a fun new challenge. For those who may have a home with numerous indoor pets that can't all be supervised, a fake tree might be best. Indoor holiday plants such as Lillies, Poinsettias, and Mistletoe are poisonous and should be kept in high places, far from a pets reach. If ingested, symptoms include;

The most common gift or treat for dogs is bones, which isn't the safest treat. Most veterinarians would rather avoid bones completely, mainly because they can easily splinter and pierce the intestine which could mean surgery. Bones also cause constipation which is a very miserable and uncomfortable event. If your pet must have a treat, low sodium chicken broth poured over their food is wonderful. NO TABLE FOOD AT ALL is recommended,  especially chocolates of any form (drinks, cake, candies, etc..). Chocolates and sweets can cause major health problems and should be avoid, vegetables are the only exception of table food. Carrots and low sodium canned green beans are great healthy treats that most dogs enjoy.

So, remember to keep a close eye on your decorations, table foods, holiday plants and tree, to avoid spending your holiday in the animal emergency clinic. Be sure to have all contact information for your local vet and emergency clinic on the fridge for that just-in-case-moment. Have a safe and joyful Holiday season.