By Stephanie Kress  

© Pet Photography To get through the holidays with your pet, there are some basic commonsense guidelines to help you survive with minimal stress and anxiety. Since holidays usually mean good things to eat, some dogs turn into beggars and even thieves when faced with temptation. Even dog-loving guests do not appreciate a drooling dog at their side when they want to enjoy holiday dinner. Start early in teaching your pet the down/stay command during regular mealtime. When the holidays roll around your pet hopefully will lie down quietly on the other side of the room. If your dog hasn't become reliable by holiday time, make an effort to keep the begging to a minimum. At holiday time kitchen counters and trashcans are chock full of irresistible treats. Use a trashcan with a locking lid or put the can under the sink or in another secured area. You can also keep your dog out of the kitchen by putting up a baby gate across the kitchen doorway. Your Christmas tree can also be a hazard. Be sure to keep pine needles off the floor as they can get lodged in an animal's esophagus, making it painful for your pet to swallow. Drinking water from the Christmas tree base can cause your pet diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting. Mistletoe is another holiday tradition that your pet may be tempted by. The red berries look like a sweet treat to them, but eating the leaves and berries can cause a drop in blood pressure and decreased heartbeat. Holly, poinsettias and ivy are other poisonous plants to keep away from pets. Pets are intrigued with flickering flames and shiny decorations. When lighting the menorah, advent wreath or decorative candles, keep pets in another room where paws and claws can't reach them. With electrical lights, remember to tape exposed electrical cords to walls or floors to ensure no chewing or tripping. Tinsel and gift wrap may look like fun toys, but they can cause choking or even a very upset stomach. Many dogs have a "holiday" sweet tooth, but chocolate can be deadly; make very sure those holiday boxes of chocolate are out of your pet's reach. Chocolate contains theobromine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine that can cause nerve damage and even death in dogs. Different types of chocolate can have varying amounts of theobromine, so if your dog eats a bag of M&Ms or a chocolate cupcake, he may not be affected, but a dark chocolate candy could do him in. There are now many safe and healthy holiday gifts out there today for your pet. Net stocking bags filled with yummy dog treats are available for your pet. Too big is always better than too small. Little chewable treats can cause a big dog to choke easily. Make sure that any chew toy is bigger than your pet's mouth. Other cool presents are brightly colored leashes and collars, a new mat for under their bowl, a new winter fleece coat with his or her name on it or a personalized travel tote. Jingle bell tennis balls, a plush candy cane or a latex dog house squeaky toy are also fun choices. If giving a pet for the holidays is on your list, there are a few things to consider. People tend to forget during the holiday season that there is a 10-to-20-year commitment involved in caring for a pet. In general, Christmas day and the first night of Chanukah are not appropriate times for introducing an animal to a new home. There is usually too much activity going on for an animal to be properly welcomed into its new environment. Many humane organizations simply will not adopt out an animal for the purpose of holiday gift giving. Up to half of them end up back at their doorsteps. Pets require constant care and attention. It is not the goal for a new pet to be a cute surprise under the tree Christmas morning. Common sense and good judgment will ensure that you and your pet will have a safe and fun holiday season and will continue to create lasting memories as a family for many years to come. Remember, acquiring a pet may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative. -Stephanie Kress is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Theiss, Lipner & Co., LLP. She can be contacted in New York at (718) 225-7325 or in Miami Beach, Fla., at (305) 535-0950 c/o Marshall Lipner, CPA.

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