Like a persistent urban legend, the story of the family leaving the house to go shopping (or other holiday activity) and coming home to find that the dog has "pre-opened" the gifts under the tree that contained chocolate, consumed them, wrappers and all, and is now not feeling well is a familiar story. And often a true story.
The same goes for those "surprise" Easter baskets left out for the kids. Be wary of the dog or cat checking out the baskets in the middle of the night, after the Easter bunny has hopped on to the next house and before the kids wake up.
Food items are popular gifts and while we may not know what is inside of the pretty packaging, your dog (and possibly your cat) has a nose that knows. Chocolate, coffee, raisins, and Macadamia nuts are just a few of the human treats that are toxic to pets.
Chewing gum, candies and other sweet treats may contain xylitol, and artificial sweetener, which has been shown to be highly toxic to dogs.
On a related note, some of the items under the tree may be presents intended for your pet. A dog biscuit is a nice treat once in a while, but an entire box in one sitting is another story!
It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season, but it is good to take a moment or two to protect your pets and your presents.
