The holidays may be a time of celebration with your family and the ones you love but before you plan that big party or dinner there are some things to keep in mind especially if you are a pet parent.
"The most common thing we see is pets that get into people food, bones or get into the trash, and get some chocolate," said Dr. Russell Johnston, Chisholm Ridge Pet Hospital.
That beautiful Christmas tree can also be an accident waiting to happen.
"We have seen pets that have gotten into the Christmas tree and chewed up glass ornaments, or the hooks that hold the ornaments on the tree," said Johnston. "Tinsel can be a big problem in cats -- they are the ones that go after the strings. You can be looking at a surgery that goes well over $1,000."
Pet owners also need to pay attention to the what they put in the water they use to keep their real Christmas tree alive and Johnston recommends putting a gate around the tree or confine it to a room where you can close the door and keep it away from your animals.
Johnston also said not to share your holiday feast.
"Bland vegetables are usually fine, boiled chicken and rice would be fine, stay away from anything fatty or spicy," said Johnston. "And don't forget about chocolate -- the more concentrated the chocolate is the more dangerous it is, but any of the chocolates can cause problems and the main problem we see with chocolate is upset stomachs."
Something else to keep in mind -- Make sure guests know the rules for your animal, especially if they're aren't used to keeping track of pets.
An open door can mean a dog or cat on the run which is why many veterinarians recommend a pet microchip for tracking purposes.
For a list of some of the other toxic foods for your pet click here.
