During the holiday season, we all have lots of extra things on our minds. There are special meals to plan, parties to attend, decorations to put up, and guests to prepare for. Pet safety should be part of your holiday planning. To keep your dog safe during this busy time of year:

Don’t feed your dog table scraps or give him alcoholic beverages.
Cooked bones can splinter causing internal damage. Some foods such as chocolate, onions, raisins, grapes, and alcohol can be toxic to your dog. High-fat foods such as gravy can cause pancreatitis.

Keep electrical cords out of reach.
Some dogs, especially puppies, like to chew on electrical cords such as those found on holiday lights. Move cords or block access to the room. Hot sauce or Bitter Apple® may deter your pup from chewing on a cord, but test it first to be sure he really doesn’t like the taste.

Keep harmful plants out of reach.
Decorative plants, such as holly and mistletoe, can be toxic to your canine pal. According to the ASPCA, poinsettia can irritate your dog’s mouth and stomach but isn’t as toxic as people think.

Ask guests to keep medicine and products sweetened with xylitol out of reach.
Your dog may see that pill bottle as a chew toy. Chewing gum and other products containing the artificial sweetener xylitol also can be toxic to your dog

Keep emergency phone numbers handy.
The National Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at (888) 426-4435. There’s a charge for their services, but if you need them, it will be money well spent. Also have the phone numbers for your vet and the nearest emergency animal hospital—and know how to get there.

Maintain your dog’s normal routine.
The holiday hustle and bustle can be as stressful for your dog as it is for you. Keep to his regular feeding and exercise schedule as much as possible. Give him a quiet place to take a break from the festivities from time to time.

Keep an identification tag on your dog.
With all the comings and goings, he could slip out the door before you know it. Increase his chances of getting back to you, by putting an ID tag on him. If you’re traveling for the holidays, that tag should include your local contact information and/or a cell phone number so your dog’s rescuer can easily find you.

Supervise, supervise, supervise.
The best prevention of problems is to supervise your dog, but that can be difficult with all the holiday commotion. When you can’t watch your dog, use baby gates or shut doors to keep your dog away from potential hazards such as glass ornaments, lit candles, tinsel, garland, and toxic plants. A wagging tail can knock a candle over or break an ornament. Broken ornaments (and sometimes even whole ones) and other decorations can be ingested and cause intestinal blockages or other damage.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!