Holidays with Rabbits December is usually the fullest month on the calendar with all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays. With all of the seasonal celebration, decorations, food and festivities, don't forget your rabbit in the mix! Household Plants Safety If you bring plants indoors for the season, be sure that they are non-toxic and have not been sprayed with any chemicals before leaving them where your bunny can reach them. Keeping poisonous plants out of reach is something we do year-round, so hang any potentially dangerous plants in a place that, even if it falls or wilts, won't be accessible to your bunny. The biggest holiday troublemaker plants are mistletoe, holly poinsettias, lilies, laurel, and Christmas rose. Bunny Proofing Your Christmas Tree (Live or Artificial) If you're putting up a tree (live or artificial), there are a few options to keep both the bunny and tree safe. If you don't want your rabbit to have access to the tree but still want to keep both your rabbit and the tree included in the main living area, consider blocking off the tree and gifts with a small picket fence or exercise pen. The picket fence can be left up and decorated, or an ex-pen can be brought out only when bunny is allowed into the room. You can also elevate the tree by putting it up on top of a small table. For live trees there are two additional hazards - the fertilizer often put in the water can cause digestive upset, and if the tree has been sprayed with a flame retardant or other chemical, make sure your bun doesn't ingest any. If your rabbit will be granted access to your tree, be sure to hang any breakable ornaments above bunny's reach, and keep light cords tucked up and inside the tree. When it comes to chewing, make sure to use either cord protectors or keep all those new cords out of reach. This especially holds true for the tree, but don't forget about light-up figurines and window decorations that may also have cords. Holiday Decorations, Presents Under the Tree and Bunny Safe Gifts While all the glittery and shiny things under and on the tree are fascinating to watch, they also can be fascinating to your pets. Tinsel, garland, ribbon, and foil papers should be avoided or kept out of bunny's reach as they don't break down in the digestive tract and can cause intestinal blockages. If you'd like to wrap your bun a gift, use plain or white paper instead of the colored varieties. If you've got a bun who enjoys shredding, this may be nicer than the gift itself! You can even use twine or sisal as a ribbon or bow. Other Things to Keep out of Reach (Candy, Plug-in scents, etc.) Other things that might attract a bun would be smelly things, especially food-flavored ones. As always, keep any open flame away from all pets. Plug-in scents, fragrant waxes or oils should also be carefully placed so bunny can't get burned, chew on them, or get melted wax in their fur. Potpourri should also be placed higher up. If your bun has a serious sweet tooth or is very curious or active, watch out for your long-eared family member jumping on the table to steal any candies or chocolates too! Guests and Keeping Routine With all the yummy goodies for humans out during the holidays, it's tempting for some well-meaning guests to offer a bit to your bun, or for him or her to get ahold of some crumbs on the floor. Chocolate is toxic, so it should always be avoided. Getting too much sugar or carbs can lead to tummy aches, including GI stasis or an upset in the gut flora, both of which can be fatal. If your guests are inclined to want to give your bunny treats, set aside some bunny safe treats your guests can give them. With the holiday rush, most of us are frazzled enough as it is, and that can sometimes spill over into our bunny's life as well. Our routines are out of whack, but try to keep feeding times and exercise times as close to normal as you can make it. Make sure to keep careful watch of your rabbit's habits - eating, drinking, and litterbox usage - so you can spot any stress or digestive problems from the change in routine before they become a more serious problem. If your bunny is normally a free-range rabbit and you have guests coming over, you may want to limit him or her to just a couple rooms on the opposite side of the house. Not only do you not want someone incorrectly trying to pick up your rabbit or feeding it inappropriate food, but you also won't want an escapee with everyone going in and out of doors. If he or she doesn't have a habitat to retreat to normally, set up a "safety spot" for when bunny gets nervous or tired of all the activity. This can be a big cardboard box, a pet carrier, or anything that they can hide under (rabbits love things like coffee tables or beds that they can hide under but see and potentially escape in any direction). It's a great idea to give this to them ahead of time so they are acquainted with it rather than it being another new thing during the flurry of activity. New Years Eve Firework Tips On New Year's Eve, the sights, sounds, and even sulfur smells of fireworks can be a bit nerve-wracking. Leave the TV on, close the curtains, and change the smell in the house (bake cookies, light a candle, etc.).