If your pet loves seasonal adornments and holiday food, beware. Animals can chew or swallow Christmas decorations accidentally, causing serious injury. And fatty or spoiled food can give cats and dogs indigestion and pancreatitis.

Rich holiday foods, even milk, will probably just cause diarrhea, gas and vomiting. But a pet who eats turkey skin can get it lodged in the throat, and turkey bones can pierce the stomach or intestines.

Tinsel, ribbon, string and breakable holiday ornaments, if swallowed, can also cause choking or perforated organs.

It's all a real danger at this time of year because many pets are attracted to shiny objects. "Cats and kittens, especially, swallow ribbon and tinsel. It can be life-threatening, requiring surgery," said Dr. Mark Huber, a veterinarian at Pet Emergency Treatment Services Inc., 930 N. Queen St.

Even if an ingested object is visible in your pet's mouth or anus, don't cut or pull it out. "If you see something in the mouth, it could go all the way into the stomach. Call a vet immediately," he added.

The emergency center operates overnight 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., weekends and holidays.

Small animals can also die from just a little unsweetened baking chocolate. "No chocolate is good chocolate when it comes to pets," Huber said. If you suspect your pet ate any form of chocolate, seek veterinary help.

Puppies, kittens and small critters need extra supervision over the winter holidays. There are frequent cases of pets being burned or electrocuted by chewing through power cords, or injured when they get entangled in Christmas lights.

When caged pets are not in their enclosures, "they have to be watched at all times," warned Dr. Donald Shellenberger, of Smoketown Veterinary Hospital. Consider using products designed for safe out-of-cage experiences, such as see-through hamster balls, covered mazes or harness leashes. Pet-proof rooms your critter might roam, as you would child-proof those rooms.

If the holidays are stressful for you, imagine what the noise, activity and houseguests can do to a small animal. Keep pets from panicking and running out an open door by restricting timid pets, especially, to their crates or safe rooms when company arrives, or consider boarding your pets.

"Of the many hazards facing pets this time of year, getting lost without identification is the greatest threat to their safety," said Megan Clark, vice president of the Humane League of Lancaster County. The shelter typically has a 5 to 10 percent increase in lost, stray and surrendered animals during the holidays.

Make sure all animals — even visiting pets — wear ID tags with local-contact phone numbers. Clark also recommends dogs have licenses and all pets have microchip identification.

"Cats, in particular, find the holidays disturbing and can dash out a door or window," she said. "If indoor cats get outdoors, they're unable to cope. A stretchy collar and ID tag is a great holiday present for any pet!"

Here are some other do's and don'ts, the experts note, to keep your pet safe this season:

•Do immediately discard string that binds roasts or turkey. Cover garbage with a tight-fitting, pet-proof lid. Store trash cans inside cupboards or behind doors.

•Don't put plants where pets can get to them. Many seasonal plants can make animals sick — and some can be fatal —so keep the mistletoe, Christmas rose, English holly, poinsettias, and star-of-Bethlehem in no-pet zones. Consult your vet about other toxic plants.

•Do use satin balls, cloth, paper or other unbreakable ornaments and garland on your tree. Put smaller or breakable ornaments and tree lights only on high branches and in the tree's interior, where curious pets might not reach them.

•Don't decorate with food such as popcorn, berries or gingerbread men.

•Don't use foil wrapping paper or bows.

•Don't leave tree hooks, tinsel, ribbon, string or lights on the floor.

•Do anchor your Christmas tree with a rope so the pet can't knock it over. Squirt a water gun near a cat who tries to climb the tree. Buy commercial "keep-away" products or apply bitter-tasting Tabasco, hot sauce or lemon on lower tree branches. Make the tree base inaccessible with a barrier or two-sided sticky tape.

•Don't let your pet drink Christmas-tree water. Don't use preservatives or aspirin in the water.

•Do vacuum up pine needles frequently.

•Don't leave food or alcohol unattended or where a pet can reach them. Put all candy and chocolate inside containers.

•Do keep your pet from chewing through electric and phone cords by lifting cords out of reach or covering them in tubing. Cover electric outlets and radiators; position screens in front of fireplaces and portable heaters, and keep windows and doors shut.