It’s the start of the holiday season — the time we get out our decorations and prepare for great merriment and frivolity. Whether it be the sugar rush of Halloween, the excess of food at our Thanksgiving meals or all of the sparkle and beauty of the Christmas tree, the holidays can spell trouble for our animal companions.

There are a myriad of ways in which our four-legged friends can get themselves into trouble during the holidays, but the most common emergency seen by veterinarians during the holidays is food related.

Cats love to play with ribbon and tinsel, but they can pose a serious health risk if ingested.

We love chocolate, and unfortunately pets do, too — particularly dogs. Chocolate is very toxic to animals, and only six squares of baking chocolate can be fatal to a 20-pound dog!

In addition to chocolate toxicity, veterinarians commonly see cases of upset stomach (gastroenteritis) caused by food thieves and scavengers eating droppings on the floor or tidbits from raided garbage cans. Even well-meaning pet owners who want to share some of their delicious holiday meal with their pets are sometimes at fault. Unfortunately these foods contain large amounts of fat or sugar that the pet is not used to eating and often leads to vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes more serious conditions such as pancreatitis, which may require more intensive care.

Onions and garlic are toxic to animals and can cause the destruction of red blood cells. Even foods spiced with these seasonings should never be fed to pets.

The decorations we use during any of the holidays can be a danger to pets as well. Cats are particularly notorious for consuming string, ribbon and tinsel. This can cause a blockage of the intestine by causing the intestine to bunch up like an accordion while the natural movement of the intestine causes the string or ribbon to perforate the intestinal wall.

This is a surgical emergency, so it is best that you keep really close tabs on all of these items so you don’t end up in the emergency room on your favorite holiday!

Cats also love shiny decorations, so it is best to stick with non-breakable ornaments to ensure that no accidents occur. In addition, it is important to watch your pets to be sure they are not cord chewers or Christmas tree climbers. These situations present not only electrocution dangers but also fire hazards. Even the tree water with added preservatives can cause animals to vomit if they drink it.

Last but not least, many plants that are given during the holidays are toxic, including mistletoe, poinsettia and holly. If consumed, these plants can cause vomiting and diarrhea, so it is best to place these beautiful holiday plants in a safe place where they cannot be molested by our friendly neighborhood plant chewers!

This holiday season, take a few minutes to think through your holiday preparations to keep your four-legged friends healthy so they can enjoy the holidays too!

— Jennifer Stone is the medical director and staff veterinarian at the Lawrence Humane Society. She has been a shelter veterinarian for more than a decade. She is excited to have the opportunity to establish the Lawrence Humane Society as one of the best shelters in Kansas.