3. HOSTESS GIFTS CAN BE POISONOUS

Guests will often bring flowers and plants as a gift for welcoming them during the holidays, but the well-intended gesture could harm or even kill pets. According to the Humane Society of the United States, ivy, holly and mistletoe are just some of the seasonal plants to watch out for – so keep them away from four-legged friends!

4. DECORATIONS MAY LOOK TASTY

It’s not really our style, but dogs might think a dangling holiday decoration looks awfully tasty. And once they chow down, they could easily choke. The same might happen if cats nibble on tinsel, which could cause a blockage in their intestines.

“Keep holiday decorations away from pets,” warns HSUS. “Tinsel, bows, ribbons and wrapping paper can be tempting chew toys for pets, but can damage their digestive systems. Remember to keep tree ornaments high enough that they’re out of your pet’s reach.”

5. PLASTIC ORNAMENTS ARE SAFER THAN GLASS

If pets are willing to chew on ornaments when they’re dangling from the tree, just imagine what they’ll do to tiny pieces of broken glass ornaments that have shattered onto the floor! If ingested, the shards of glass could cause internal bleeding and possibly even death.

Stepping on broken glass will cause unnecessary pain and leave a bloody mess to clean up. Plastic ornaments don’t pose that threat.

6. WILDLIFE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND YOUR OUTDOOR DECOR

Animals like deer can quickly become tangled in string lights. Since the wiring is camouflaged in shrubbery, their antlers may get caught, leaving them unable to get free.

If pets chew on outdoor decorations, they could also get electrocuted. To ensure all animals are safe, wrap those lights very tightly around the branches.

7. BOWS ARE CUTER IN MOVIES

Putting a ribbon around a pet’s neck sounds cute, especially if they’re being given as a gift – hopefully not bought, however, and only gifted to someone who asked for an animal and is ready to take on the responsibility — but it could pose a serious choking hazard.

Costumes like these are also adorable, but HSUS suggests “keep[ing] a close eye on your pets” and not “leav[ing] them unattended” while wearing costumes, since they could have pieces that would accidentally choke the animal.

8. WATCH OUT FOR THE MENORAH

If celebrating in the Jewish tradition, a menorah should never be left unattended when pets are in the house. If they knock down a candle, a house fire could follow.

Birds are especially sensitive to air quality, so they should be kept away from any burning candles.

Photo Credit: Getty Images