Ready to deck the halls? Although Christmas is still several weeks away, you can begin thinking about how to have a safe and happy holiday season in a household with pets.

A big holiday problem you might encounter with your pets is their interest in eating what you don’t want them to consume. Some yule-tide items pose specific dangers:

• Chocolate: All chocolate contains a natural chemical called theobromine that is poisonous to most animals. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. In the worst case situation, a small piece could kill a small dog.

• Candy and other sweets: Sugar can be too much for a pet, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.

• Bread dough: It’s warm and yummy but even in small amounts the yeast can rise while in the stomach and cause pain. Alcohol caused by breakdown of the yeasts during rising can be poisonous. Sometimes the dough even has to be surgically removed.

• Macadamia nuts: Great for humans but bad news for dogs. Macadamia nuts can cause pain, muscle stiffness, nausea and vomiting, and disorientation in canines. Fortunately other animals don’t seem to be affected.

• New foods: Don’t try something new on your pet this time of year. The stress of the season combined with the rich or unfamiliar food may lead to gastrointestinal upset. Overeating can also be a problem, leading to obesity and its accompanying dangers of heart and organ trouble.

• Human “vices:” Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine are all poisonous to animals. Make sure they are not available at pet level. Dump glasses containing alcoholic beverages that are not immediately consumed and be careful about leaving cigarette or cigar butts in places where pets can pick them up.

• Bones: If your pet is not used to eating animal bones, don’t begin offering them now. It’s true that some pet owners feed a diet that contains bones and raw foods (also known by the acronym, BARF) without adverse effects, but knowledge of how to do this and close supervision are vital when choosing to feed this way. Bones can splinter in the digestive tract and should not be given as treats.

• Tinsel: Along with yarn, string and ribbon, tinsel can be ingested and wrap around internal organs. This is particularly hazardous to young cats, who enjoy playing with these items. With so many great, safe cat toys available, it’s not necessary to give the cat a ball of yarn anymore.

• Glass balls: Many ornaments look so shiny and fun that animals may not resist trying to take a bite.

• Conifer needles: Needles are generally OK but can be sharp, causing tiny wounds in the mouth and esophagus. Needles can also cause choking.

• Water in the tree stand: Tree water may be poisonous if it contains preservatives; look for a preservative that contains only sugar or use lemon-lime soda mixed with water. Stagnant water can also contain bacteria that will cause illness. Look for a tree stand that’s hard to drink from.

• Holiday plants: Poinsettias are generally not poisonous unless several plants are consumed, and even then they will only cause mild stomach upset. Amaryllis and narcissus bulbs, holly berries, and mistletoe can all cause nausea and vomiting if ingested. Fortunately, most pets are not interested in these plants — but they should be kept away from pet levels if there’s any concern.

• Electric cords: Temporary seasonal lighting requires more cords, and these cords can be attractive to animals that like to chew. Puppies and rabbits are especially at risk. Hide cords or cover them with corrugated cord wrap or conduit that cannot be chewed.

• Foil and cellophane: On gifts and from candies, foil and cellophane wraps may look interesting to chew on. Cats especially tend to run into problems with ingestion of these materials.

For these and other issues that may pop up, it’s a good idea to have the number for the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center somewhere handy. Learn more about the center at www.aspca

.org/apcc, or write down their number, (888) 426-4435, where you won’t lose it. A phone consultation costs $50, which can be charged to a major credit card.

And don’t forget that if you have immediate concerns about the life of your pet you can call the mid-

valley’s only 24-hour emergency pet clinic, Animal Emergency and Critical Care Center at Willamette Veterinary Clinic in Corvallis. They are available any time at (541) 753-5750. They’ll be able to examine your pet whenever your regular veterinarian’s office is closed and provide life-saving care if required.

Jennifer Gardner is a freelance writer and editor and a board member at Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis. She enjoys writing about all animals but specializes in rabbits and other small pets. If you have questions or comments about this column or other pet issues, please e-mail Jennifer at jennifer@visualpeople.com or write c/o The Gazette-Times.