Four-legged family members make the holidays extra special, but even those who don’t normally make the naughty list can get into trouble when it comes to decorations. Make sure your home is pet-friendly for the holidays by keeping your dog or cat safe from these five common Christmas decorations that could be a safety or health risk.

Top 5 Christmas Decoration Holiday Hazards for Pets

1. Stop pets from “rockin’ around the Christmas tree.”
To dogs and cats, the sudden installation of an indoor tree can be incredibly intriguing, especially if you’ll be putting up an authentic evergreen this year. Cats may see a Christmas tree as a tall scratching post full of hiding places, with built-in dangly toys on every branch. Dogs tend to chew branches, play with decorations, and even pee on the trunk. Glass ornaments can fall and shatter. It’s best to keep pets out of the room when they can’t be supervised, or put up a gate that your pet is unable to climb or tip over. Ornaments can be anchored with special safety clips, and/or replaced with sturdy, non-glass, non-edible decorations.

2. Avoid fire hazards with safe alternatives to candles.
Menorahs, centerpieces, and other candles are a fire hazard around pets who may climb, jump, or even wag their tail close to the flame. Battery-powered LED candles are a safe alternative to traditional candles, and many are made of wax and even flicker and “crackle” just like a real candle.

3. Keep cords away from chewers.
Christmas lights can cause serious burns or electric shock in pets that chew cords and cables. Pets prone to chewing, particularly teething puppies and kittens, as well as small animals like rabbits, should be kept away from cords. You can apply Bitter No-Chew Spray to cords and other tempting decorations to discourage your pet from chewing.

4. Prevent pets from peeking at presents.
Dogs and cats may try to open presents by climbing into gift bags or ripping open packages. It may be best to wait until Christmas eve to place presents around the tree, and keep pets supervised near gifts. Take extra care with presents you haven’t wrapped yourself, as they could contain hazardous items like small toys, which can pose a choking hazard, or toxic foods like chocolate or raisins.

5. Hang the stockings with care.
Stockings, too, can lure curious pets, and they’re likely to be stuffed with chocolate or candies that may be toxic to dogs and cats. If possible, wait to stuff stockings until it’s almost time to open presents. Also take care with what fastenings and hardware you’ll use to secure stockings and other decor. Make sure any hooks, tacks, nails, or screws are properly installed with no exposed sharp edges.

Celebrate Safely With Your Pet This Holiday Season

While there are many holiday hazards for pets, that doesn’t mean your dog or cat has to be left out of the festivities. Pets love special holiday dinners, presents, toys, and treats too, and may be less likely to get into mischief if they have plenty of goodies of their own to enjoy.