Dear Readers,

Christmas is just around the corner and, if you're like me, you're wondering how many times you'll grab your cat out of the tree, retrieve ribbons from your dog's mouth or remove your pet rat from the sleeve of Aunt Hilda's new coat.

Yes, 'tis the season to decorate, make merry and remove pet hair from your eggnog. If your family includes four-legged merry-makers, you'll want to make sure they're kept safe, healthy and happy during the holiday season. Here are just a few tips to help you arrive at Boxing Day without a mad dash to the veterinary emergency hospital or at least prevent Sparky and Fluffy from toppling the tree.

* Live trees can carry bacteria or chemical fertilizers that may cause allergic reactions in some people as well as animals.

If you're not sure how your pet will react, leave the tree outside and clip a branch to bring indoors for a day or two. If no reaction appears, bring the tree inside. If possible, position the tree in a corner and anchor it to the wall to avoid "Timberrrrr!" at 2 a.m. when the pets decide it's time to grab that ornament from the uppermost branch.

Some people add chemicals to the tree's water to increase its longevity but many of these products can be toxic. Check the label for warnings. Whether using additives or not, standing water can cause stomach upsets and other illness in pets.

Use food wrap or some other covering to prevent access. If all this tree stuff scares you, think about buying a live or artificial tabletop tree and placing it where your pets can't reach it.

* Baubles and tinsel and lights, oh my!

Christmas trimming can be alluring to a pet but the results can be deadly. When choosing your decorations and gift wrappings, consider how easily it can be ripped, broken, shredded and swallowed. If in doubt, think of your pet as a two-year-old human toddler. If it poses a danger to a curious child, it poses a danger to your pet. * Plants such as holly, poinsettias and mistletoe and foods such as chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, alcoholic beverages, onions, garlic and caffeine can be toxic to animals.

Experts differ in opinion as to the quantity ingested before it becomes reason to panic but I prefer the safe route: just keep these items out of your pet's reach. Toxic reactions can include excessive salivating, skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory and heart complications and seizures. A rush to the emergency clinic is never on our list of holiday plans so supervise your pet at all times or make it easy on yourself by placing Christmas items and foods far away from roving noses.

* Upchucking - not good. Keep your pets on their regular diets or say goodbye to your favourite carpets. Yes, of course you can offer extra treats and a bit of turkey if your animals are accustomed to a variety of foods. But sensitive tummies, young animals, older animals or those with compromised health may plead for extra fare but you must stand firm. And be careful where you store your leftovers.

Bones, fat, grease, string used for tying up the turkey ... let's not even think about it. Let's just pack it away in a pet-proof location until it can be disposed of properly.

Now that I've surely put a damper on your Christmas spirit, take heart. All that is required is common sense and repetition of my manta: your pet is like a two-year-old human child, full of curiosity and boundless enthusiasm, regardless of the consequences. If you keep that in mind, you and your pet will have a happy, safe and secure Christmas season that will provide many years of warm memories.

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers and their beloved pets.

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.