FDA unveils bizarre new advice for pet owners over Xmas that warns of the dangers of TINSEL – with the slogan ‘don’t let your Christmas go from Ho-Ho-Ho! to Oh-No!’

Homes may be filling with Christmas cheer this year, but when the tinsel goes up and the festive chocolates and mints come out, it could pose a risk to your pet.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday released a list of eight items that add a festive touch and could be harmful to your cat or dog.

These include dog treats, which pets can eat too quickly, causing digestive problems, empty chip packets, which can cause pets to choke, and cigarette butts, which can cause nicotine poisoning.

Emergency vet visits increase by more than 300 percent at some veterinary centers during the holidays due to accidents involving festive treats or decorations.

Pet treats can cause choking

The FDA warned that while it can be fun to give your dog a treat at Christmas, doing so can pose a risk to the pet.

Some dogs may be so excited that they eat the treat too quickly, causing it to get stuck in their throat and cause them to choke.

If the treat was a bone, there was also a risk of it getting stuck in the intestines.

The FDA warned: 'Severe throat blockages are common, especially around the holidays, and all are life-threatening.

“If you see your frantic (dog) drooling and choking, he needs an emergency visit to his vet!”

Statistics suggest that more than 200,000 pet choking incidents are recorded each year in the United States. There are no figures on fatalities.

To protect your pet from this, the FDA recommends breaking treats into small pieces before giving them to pets – to avoid consuming them too quickly.

Tinsel or ribbons

Tinsel, ribbons and string are an important part of the holidays; they are used to make homes look more festive and to wrap gifts safely.

Dogs and cats often play with it, attracted by the bright sparkling colors.

But the FDA warns that there is a risk of pets consuming the decorations, putting them at risk of life-threatening complications.

In some cases, the strings and ribbons can become tangled in their stomach, causing an infection.

It may take several hours or days for warning signs that a pet has swallowed tinsel or string to appear, but they may also include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and reduced activity.

People concerned that their pets have swallowed decorations should contact a veterinarian, they said, who can perform scans.

To protect pets, the FDA suggested not putting tinsel on the Christmas tree and collecting all ribbons and string after opening gifts.

Salt decorations can poison pets

It can look beautiful to hang a salt ornament made by your children at school on the Christmas tree.

But the FDA warns that if adults aren't looking, pets can grab these decorations and eat them whole, risking salt poisoning.

One salt decoration generally contains 48 teaspoons of salt, or 96 times more than a 10-pound pet, such as a cat, can safely consume.

In the early stages of salt poisoning, pets may drool, vomit and experience diarrhea.

In later stages, the poisoning can lead to uncoordinated walking, frequent urination, dehydration, increased thirst, seizures, coma and death.

Consuming too much salt disrupts the balance of nutrients in the body – which can cause water to begin to flow from cells, including the brain, causing the organ to become inflamed and swell.

The FDA said that in cases where pets consume salt ornaments, they should urgently see a veterinarian.

To minimize the risk, they recommend keeping salt decorations far away from pets.

These festive plants can poison your pets

Although poinsettias, mistletoe and holly make wonderful festive additions to the home, the FDA warns that they can poison your pets.

The agency said, “Please consider your furry family members when displaying or disposing of your holiday plants.”

For poinsettias, the FDA said they contain toxins in their leaves – which is also responsible for their brilliant, vibrant color.

If a dog or cat chews on the leaves or stems, they may experience drooling and diarrhea. They may also suffer from an uneasy stomach.

For mistletoe, this also contains a toxin – lectins and foratoxins – in their leaves and stems.

If an animal eats a small amount, it may experience vomiting, diarrhea and breathing difficulties. But in situations where they swallow a large amount, the venom can cause a slowed heart rate and low blood pressure, which can be fatal.

Holly leaves themselves are not fatal, but the plant also has bright red berries laced with a toxin called saponins.

This can also lead to drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and decreased activity when consumed.

The FDA said, “If you suspect your pet has eaten any of the three plants above, it is a good idea to call your veterinarian.

'They can give you advice on what you can do at home to make your pet more comfortable and help you decide whether your pet needs medical treatment.'

Table scraps can cause suffocation

Leftover bits of turkey, Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes can be just as tasty for your dog or cat as they are for you, even if they're in the trash.

But the agency warns that allowing pets to consume these table scraps could cause an unexpected trip to the vet.

Pieces of bone can get stuck in your pet's throat, causing gagging or choking. Sharp pieces can also cause injuries to their mouth, throat and stomach – or puncture the intestines.

The FDA said: 'Stand firm when eating and resist the urge to feed your dog or cat table scraps.

“Remember, when the food is done, throw the leftovers and bones somewhere they can't get to.”

Chocolate and mints

Chocolate and mints are a common festive treat this time of year, but the agency warns that you should prevent pets from eating them.

Chocolatey treats may contain theobromine, which is toxic to dogs even in small amounts, with as little as two grams fatal to a medium-sized dog.

Dogs are unable to break down the toxin as quickly as humans, making them more sensitive to its effects – including heart problems, dilation of blood vessels and relaxing smooth muscles.

Symptoms of a dog suffering from this include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity, increased urination and seizures.

Mints also pose a risk because they contain the sweetener xylitol. When dogs consume this, their bodies release a lot of insulin – but if no sugar enters the bloodstream, it causes their blood sugar levels to drop sharply.

Symptoms appear within just 20 minutes and include vomiting, weakness, dizziness and decreased activity.

The FDA says that when this happens, it is best to consult a veterinarian immediately.

To prevent this, they say sweet treats should be kept out of the reach of pets.

Bags of chips can cause choking

Empty crisp bags also pose a risk to pets around Christmas, the agency warns.

Pets feel the tasty treats that were in the bags and stick their heads in to lick up the remains of the pieces.

But in some cases, the bags can get stuck on their heads, putting them at risk of suffocation.

To prevent this, the FDA says to ensure that all bags are properly disposed of after use and not left for pet use.

Cigarette butts can cause nicotine poisoning

There is also an increased risk of pets consuming cigarette butts around Christmas.

This can happen because someone has a visitor in the house who smokes, while normally no one in the house smokes.

Dogs can consume leftover butts and may then experience toxic effects due to the nicotine they contain.

This includes excitement to shaking, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea caused by the drug.

Even at low doses it can cause seizures, decreased activity, slowed breathing, slowed heart rate, or death.