I like to think of Halloween as the beginning of the holiday season. And I thought it would be a great time to have a little informal review of the many hazards that the holidays pose for our pets and how to avoid them.

1. I have always believed that for humans, chocolate deserves its own generously sized brick on the food pyramid. But for dogs, chocolate can be deadly. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which in dogs causes vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms and even death when consumed in sufficient quantities.

The darker the chocolate, the higher the amounts of theobromine contained within, but depending on the size of your dog, even a little milk chocolate can be harmful.

2. Some people like to bake during the holidays. My college roommate's mother made homemade rolls one Christmas. The family's poodle consumed an entire pan of them, which was rising over a heating vent. Gilly got off with a swollen, aching belly. But intestinal blockage that requires surgery can result if enough dough is consumed.

3. Don't forget to keep your eye on the turkey while you're simultaneously chatting with cousin Edna, putting fresh batteries in your son's remote-controlled robot and keeping the cat from climbing the Christmas tree. Your dog is diabolically plotting to chow down on your holiday delicacies and doesn't care if it snatches them off the counter or out of the garbage can.Consuming foods with a high fat content can cause a very serious and painful condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be fatal. Dogs that survive are often prone to recurring bouts for the rest of their lives.

4. And while cats rarely commit the dietary sins of their canine counterparts, few of them can resist the lure of a shiny piece of tinsel dangling from the tree. Linear objects like tinsel and string, if swallowed, will get stuck on the way through the intestines and can cause blockage.

5. Make sure that lit candles are kept away from places where your cat likes to saunter.

6. Resist the urge to take your dog trick-or-treating with the kids this Halloween, as it can be a loud and confusing experience for the pet, which might prompt panic and an escape attempt. Make sure your pet has a collar with identification so that it gets back to you safely if lost. A microchip, which can be implanted under your pet's skin by your vet, guarantees that you'll be able to identify your pet.

7. And if you're planning to travel with your pet during the holidays, don't forget to bring necessary medications with you, and make sure that you have an ample supply before you leave home.

Christie Long is a veterinarian at the VCA Fort Collins Animal Hospital.