*Christmas trees and pine needles: If you have a large dog or a tree-climbing cat, use a strong ..cord or rope to secure the top of the tree to a wall. Ingested pine needles can puncture your pet's ..intestines. Clean around your holiday trees and wreaths often. Drinking the water from the Christmas ..tree base is enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree ..stand tightly with skirting and distract your pet from tree temptations with holiday toys and treats.

*Candy: Like you, pets can suffer stomach aches and cavities from overindulgence in holiday candy. ..Chocolate contains theobromine, a caffeine like substance, that acts like a stimulant and can cause ..seizures or heart failure and can be fatal.

*Plants: Juice from holiday plants, including poinsettia, is toxic enough to cause serious harm or even ..death to your pets. Vomiting, crying, frothing, depression, and muscle twitching are signs of plant ..poisening.

*Ornaments: Breakable tree ornaments, angel hair, tinsel icicles, and ribbons should be kept out of ..your pet's reach. Ornaments, hooks, ribbon and rubber bands can be safety hazards. They can be ..ingested and swallowed, causing serious and possible fatal digestive problems.

*Alcohol: Don't share a "little" alcoholic drink with your pet this holiday season or anytime. It may ..seem like a fun thing but the effects can be harmful, even fatal. A 30-pound dog, for example, would ..be considered "under the influence" with just two tablespoons of whiskey. Two teaspoons would make ..a five-pound cat comatose and a tablespoon could kill the same animal. Alcohol is toxic to puppies ..and kittens and their "sipping" from your holiday spirit glass can lead to heart and liver complications.

*NEVER give ham, steak, or poultry bones to your pet. Ingestion of these can lead to severe intestinal ..disease such as perforations or obstructions. Ingestion of excessive fatty food may cause severe ..vomiting and diarrhea.