1960s TWO COCKER SPANIEL PUPPY PRESENTS SITTING UNDER CHRISTMAS TREE  (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

563958681

1960s TWO COCKER SPANIEL PUPPY PRESENTS SITTING UNDER CHRISTMAS TREE (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

Photo by: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock

H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

By: Nesa Nourmohammadi

The holiday season is a wonderful time to be had by ever single member of the family, whether they walk on two legs or four. Here are some holiday pet safety tips to make sure you spend the holidays celebrating at home and not at the vet!

December 23, 2019

The holiday season is a wonderful time to be had by ever single member of the family, whether they walk on two legs or four. But while we don’t associate the season with danger, there are certain holiday traditions that could make this time of the year more joyless than joyful for your pet.

No one knows more about this than Amanda Giese, star of the Animal Planet series, AMANDA TO THE RESCUE. As the founder of Panda Paws Rescue, Giese is used to having a menagerie of animals in and out of her home over the course of the year. She recently stopped by Animal Planet headquarters, where she offered some helpful safety tips for pets during the holiday season.

Don’t let curiosity kill the cat. Keep holiday decorations out of reach.

You may see the cord to the Christmas tree lights, but your pet could think it’s a tasty treat. Things like ornaments, presents, plants and other holiday décor should be kept as far out of each as possible.

“It’s like proofing your home for a toddler. If it’s knee height or below, I have to be prepared for it to get chewed up or ingested,” Giese said. “So everything that I do, I do from the knees and up.”


Family and friends can be exhausting, no matter what species you are.

As much as we love having our loved ones together this time of year, having so many people in the house can be overwhelming for both us and our pets. Giese recommends keeping a close eye on animals for changes in behavior around guests and having a quiet room ready for your them to decompress, if needed.

We love snow on Christmas Day (so long as you’re dressed for it).

A dog wearing a coat is absolutely ah-dorable, but there’s more to the look than just style. A Siberian husky will fare better outside in the winter, then say a pug or a chihuahua, so, depending on their breed, a dog should wear a coat and even booties if it’s cold.

“Obviously in the summer, we have to worry about dogs overheating and burning their paws on the concrete,” Giese said. “But during the wintertime, especially when it's extremely cold, snowy weather, we need to make sure that we're not burning their feet on the ice.”

We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, spent at home with the people we love (and not at the vet’s office).

Next Up

NFL SUPER STADIUMS Follows the Epic Journey of Building SoFi Stadium

In partnership with the NFL, Discovery and Science Channel go behind the scenes and follow the remarkable journey of constructing SoFi Stadium in an all-new, two-hour special, NFL SUPER STADIUMS premiering Wednesday, September 9 at 8P on Science Channel and Saturday, September 12 at 11A on Discovery.

Celebrity Car Dealers Showcase the American Dream on MILLION DOLLAR WHEELS

The cutthroat and elite world of celebrity luxury and supercar dealers is on full display is the new discovery+ series, MILLION DOLLAR WHEELS executive produced by academy award®-winner, Jamie Foxx. Watch the series premiere on February 28, 2022 on discovery+.

Carole Baskin Shares Her Story in a new Two-Part discovery+ Docu-Series

Carole Baskin is on a mission to protect Big Cats and to stop the abuse of Big Cats forever. CAROLE BASKIN’S CAGE FIGHT is coming to discovery+ on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Female ‘Vampire’ Remains Discovered in 17th-Century Graveyard

Archaeologists have unearthed an extremely unusual burial ritual to prevent a return from the dead.

All-New Series Phantom Signals Investigates the Strange and Unexplainable

In a world dominated by technology, every day we are exposed to signals that take part in our daily operations. But what happens when a glitch occurs? Find out on PHANTOM SIGNALS, premiering Thursday, October 8 at 10 P ET, only on Science Channel.

Here Are Some Things You Never Knew About Saint Patrick's Day

Every year on March 17th, people around the world celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with parades, feasts, and a whole lot of green. But what is Saint Patrick's Day and why do we celebrate it?

Unlock the Secrets of the Lost Ark

For as long as we know, explorers have searched for the Bible’s most sacred religious artifacts. All-new series SECRETS OF THE LOST ARK premieres Sunday, May 23 at 10p on Science Channel.

Bindi Irwin Marries Long-Time Boyfriend Chandler Powell

The wedding date had to be pushed forward due to the coronavirus, but the day was still filled with love.

12 Year Old Gets Global Birthday Wishes, Trends #1 on Twitter

During these times of uncertainty, a feel-good story about strangers around the world gathering on Twitter to wish one boy ‘Happy Birthday’ is exactly what we need right now.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs Risk it all in New Discovery Series I Quit

Successful leaders help six fledgling businesses reach the next level in I QUIT, premiering Tuesday, August 18 at 10P ET.