It may not be the most wonderful time of the year if your pets aren’t safe. Here are 12 tips to keep your pets out of harm's way – and out reindeer’s way – this holiday season:

12) Curious about shining flames, pets can knock over a candle and start a fire. Fumes from scented candles can be deadly to birds because of their sensitive respiratory systems.

11) Not all pets are social butterflies. Don’t force bashful pets to interact with Aunt Sally and Uncle Buddy if they don’t want to.

10) They’ll be much mistletoeing and hearts will be glowing, but not if the pets are near to munch on. Fresh mistletoe and that holly can make pets very sick.

9) Ring the silver bell for dinner, but pets shouldn’t be fed from the dinner table unless you want a pet begging for the new year. A little table food may not be all bad, if it’s offered in their food bowl, or even better offer a special treat made for pets. But when all the relatives show their love by each one offering table scraps, that’s too much of a good thing.  More than a slice or two of turkey or ham to a small dog or cat is like an average person chowing down a half a turkey or ham. Fatty meat and poultry bones are a bad idea.

8) While you run around town getting your last minute shopping completed and hitting holiday parties your pets regular play and snuggle time with you may not happen. So, leave your pooch something fun to work on toys like the Orbee-Tuff, Kong, Dogzilla and/or Busy Body toys.  Or if you can, at least toss the tennis ball outside. Here’s a great tip if you’ve just built Frosty the Snowman, and require gloves and if to save time – use the Booda Go Get It Ball Launcher. Tennis balls fit into a plastic claw that you just swing – with gloves on, no need to worry about frostbitten hands or a slobbery tennis ball…and Fido still play outside.

7) Santa doesn’t need the calories, so don’t leave him cookies. Chocolate can make pets sick. And avocado is dangerous for birds. So, keep a watchful eye over the guacamole.

6) Secure your tree. Cats love playing with tinsel; they’ve been known to topple entire trees by pulling on tinsel or ornaments hanging from branches. Cats and puppies are so fascinated by tinsel and ribbon they may make a meal of it, which keeps veterinarians in surgery on Christmas Day.

5) A small lattice-work fence around the base of the tree will prevent cats from climbing the tree.

4) Don’t add chemical preservatives or anything else to the water at the base of your tree to prolong the tree’s life. Homemade family recipes include bizarre additives, such as chicken soup, Vitamin C, dog urine (yuck!), bleach even birth control pills. Aside from making the water your tree sits in dangerous for pets to drink, experts say there’s nothing you can add that’ll likely make your tree last longer. A tree-stand skirt prevents pets from drinking this water.

3) Some pets, especially puppies and kittens, will munch on errant Christmas tree needles, which they can choke on. 

2) When choosing a tree, consider one with pet-friendly pliable needles – such as a Douglas fir or white pine. They won’t stick in your pet’s paws.

1) Pets Deserve Presents Too: When you wrap gifts (check out catnip wrapping paper), don’t forget to give something special to include your pets – after all, they’re family too!

©Steve Dale