The Georgia Veterinary Medical Association is offering up these pet safety tips for the holidays, especially when hosting parties and decorating.

• Keep people food and beverages (especially cocktails) out of the reach of your pet. Ask your guests to do the same.
• Make sure your pet doesn’t have any access to treats, especially those containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions or other toxic foods. Turkey bones, which can easily splinter, are off limits.
• Don’t leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, a decorated tree or potpourri.
• Keep holiday plants (especially holly, lilies, mistletoe and poinsettias) out of reach of pets.
• Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat.
• Secure your Christmas tree to keep it from falling over if your dog bumps it or your cat climbs it; hanging lemon-scented car air fresheners in the tree may deter your cat from climbing it.
• Caution when using electrical cords, which may cause electrical shock capable of causing terrible burns and even death.
• If your pet is excitable or scared when you have company, consider putting your pet in another room with some of his/her toys, a comfortable bed, etc. or providing a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement (such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place). Same goes for excessive noise, which may frighten your pet.
• Do not give a pet as a gift. Sadly, many puppies and kittens that are given as holiday surprise gifts wind up in shelters.

For more information, visit www.gvma.net.