12/04/2025
Holiday Decorating: Hidden Dangers for Pets
As festive lights go up and homes transform with holiday décor, many pet owners don’t realize the many hazards these decorations can pose to curious cats and dogs. From choking hazards to toxic plants and dangerous strings or wires, common holiday décor items can quickly turn a joyous celebration into a veterinary emergency .
🎄 Why Holiday Decorations Are Risky for Pets
• Trees & Water Base Risks: Whether real or artificial, Christmas trees can pose dangers. Pine needles — live or artificial — can irritate pets’ mouths or stomachs, and if swallowed may puncture the digestive tract or cause an intestinal blockage.
• The water in a real tree stand — often treated with preservatives to prolong freshness — can attract a thirsty pet. These additives (or even just stagnant water or pine sap) can be toxic.
• Shiny Temptations: Tinsel, Ribbons, Ornaments: Tinsel, ribbons, strings and small ornaments are among the top hazards. If ingested, tinsel or ribbon can cause life-threatening intestinal blockage requiring surgery.
• Glass or fragile ornaments pose a danger if they break: pets can be injured by shards, or swallow pieces — again risking choking or intestinal damage.
• Lights and Cords: Holiday lights and their cords can attract pets — chewing them may result in electrical burns or shocks, or even fire hazards.
• Plants & Greenery: Traditional holiday plants — such as mistletoe, holly, poinsettias — may cause nausea, vomiting, drooling, or more serious health problems if ingested.
• Candles & Open Flames: Flames or hot wax from lit candles can be knocked over — a danger to pets and a fire hazard for the home.
Vet Clinics See the Consequences
Emergency veterinarians often report a spike in holiday-related calls — particularly for pet ingesting tinsel, ribbons, or small ornaments. One common story: a cat drawn in by shiny tinsel ends up needing surgery to remove a tangled strand from its intestines. Another frequent risk: dogs chewing cords and getting shock injuries.
But the danger isn’t limited to “cute accidents.” Toxic plant ingestion or drinking treated tree water has also sent pets to ERs. Given the severity, many vet clinics urge pet owners to treat holiday décor — and pets — with the same caution they’d use for children.
Practical Tips for a Pet-Safe Holiday
To help pet owners keep their homes merry — and safe — consider recommending the following:
• Skip tinsel, ribbons, angel hair, or any string-like decorations. If you use ornaments, choose large, shatterproof ones, and place them high on the tree or out of reach.
• Secure the tree so it can’t be knocked over — especially if a pet climbs or plays nearby. Use a sturdy, weighted stand or even anchor the tree to a wall or ceiling.
• Cover the tree-stand water reservoir so pets can’t drink from it. If using a real tree, avoid adding preservatives or sweeteners to the water.
• Keep electrical cords out of reach — use cord covers or tape cords to walls or baseboards; unplug lights when unsupervised.
• Avoid using traditional holiday plants (mistletoe, holly, poinsettias, lilies) — or use fake/ artificial instead — especially if you know you have pets around.
• Be cautious about edible decorations — strings of popcorn, candy canes or other food-based décor can tempt pets and lead to choking or digestive issues.
• Use flameless candles instead of real ones, or ensure real candles are well out of pets’ reach and never left unattended.
A Call to Pet Owners:
It’s easy to get carried away with festive cheer — but for pet owners, a little forethought can go a long way. As holiday decorations start going up, remember that even small items like a string of tinsel or a low-hanging ornament can spell disaster for a curious cat or puppy.
If you’re a pet owner, treat holiday décor like you would a toddler’s toys: supervise, pet-proof, and if in doubt — skip it.
If you have questions about pet care please email Dr Norette Underwood of the Trumann Animal Clinic at [email protected]
