Fido and Fluffy enjoy the holidays, too - but chewing on or eating some decorations can cause them to become ill, or even to die, according to Barb Huffman, the shelter manager at the Casper Humane Society.

Christmas lights, ornaments, tinsel and extension cords can all seem like glitzy toys to a pet. But if a dog or cat chews on them, the pieces can become entangled in its intestines, Huffman said.

To be on the safe side, place anything with small, breakable or chewable pieces up on high branches of a Christmas tree or on high table tops - well out of the reach of your pets.

The same goes with ribbons and bows atop gifts, she said.

But pet owners should be cautious after the gifts are unwrapped, too.

"New stuffed toys for the kids could have button eyes - they might chew those eyes off and swallow them, or parts from games and models and so on," Huffman said.

Dogs and cats like sniffing around the tree - but the solution used for keeping live Christmas trees fresh longer can be poisonous.

Use a brand without fertilizers, or make sure your pet can't drink the solution.

When cooking, make sure ingredients like chocolate stay out of reach of your dog, and Huffman cautioned against giving animals table scraps that have bones - like in chicken or turkey.

"Many times those bones slit and they can get into the intestines. It could lead to surgery or even death," she said.

If your dog or cat does swallow a potentially hazardous item, Huffman said it is best to call your veterinarian.