Hello, I'm Dr. McDaniel and I'm here to talk to you today about holiday hazards for your pet.

During the holiday season, we all have many things around our homes that are not commonly there. Some of these things can pose a risk to your pet. One of the common things we see during the holiday season is pets partaking in the holiday meal.

The foods that we have during the holiday season can be dangerous to our pets if they overindulge in them. Things like turkey drippings, ham, fatty things can actually upset your pets stomach, cause vomiting, diarrhea and for some pets, if they are sensitive to these things it can actually cause pancreatitis which can be life threatening.

Another thing that we have in the homes during the holiday season is chocolate. Chocolate can be poisonous to our pets. Chocolate has a substance called theobromine which is like caffeine. This tends to be probably most risky for dogs since they tend to overeat or indulge in chocolate.

Different types of chocolate actually have different amounts of this caffeine-like substance. The baking chocolate that is used to make cookies and treats for the holiday season has the highest amount of this and imposes the most risk.

Milk chocolate that's common in Hershey's kisses and candy bars has a lower amount. It also varies on the weight of your pet. A smaller pet is going to be more at risk than a larger pet. The signs of chocolate toxicity are vomiting and diarrhea.

If your pet has ingested a large quantity of chocolate, a higher dose, it could be hyperactivity, tremors, and seizures.

The tinsel we use on the Christmas tree and the ribbons we use to decorate presents are very enticing to cats and puppies. They can eat this and actually cause an intestine obstruction, which will cause vomiting.

The common myth about a potential hazard for your pet is the poinsettia plant. The poinsettia plant is not toxic to your pet. Like any common household plant, if your pet ingests a large quantity of it, it could cause him to vomit or have diarrhea, but it is not toxic.

So one tip I have for you for this holiday season is to elevate the small decorations and tinsel up higher on the christmas tree and keep food up away from your pet.

So keep your pet healthy this holiday season, so everyone has a joyous, peaceful holiday. I'm Dr. McDaniel from Sand Creek Animal Hospital. This is today's Pet Vet.