From snacking on human treats to biting colorful light bulbs, as the winter holiday season draws   closer, remind pet owners that they must keep a watchful eye on their four-legged friends. In   2011, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) policyholders spent more than $22.8 million on medical   conditions commonly associated with the holidays. The company recently sorted its database   of more than 485,000 insured pets to determine the 10 most common holiday-related medical   conditions last year. Here are the results:

1. Gastritis (vomiting): ingesting “people” food, holiday plants (lilies, hollies and mistletoe)   and Christmas tree water

2. Enteritis (diarrhea): eating “people” food and scraps

3. Colitis (loose or bloody stool): eating “people” food; holiday stress

4. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): eating fatty “people” food such as roasts,   gravy, nuts, egg nog, etc.

5. Gastric foreign body (foreign object in the stomach): ingesting Christmas tree   decorations, ribbon, small gifts, and bones from holiday meats

6. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (bloody vomiting and diarrhea): eating people food; holiday   stress

7. Intestinal foreign body (foreign object in the intestines): ingesting tinsel, other Christmas   tree decorations, and bones from holiday meats

8. Gastric foreign body, surgical (surgical removal of foreign object from the stomach):   unable to pass Christmas tree decorations and bones

9. Intestinal foreign body, surgical (surgical removal of foreign object from the intestines):   unable to pass tinsel, ribbons, or bone fragments

10. Methylaxanthine toxicity (chocolate toxicity): eating chocolate or other caffeinated   products.  In order to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for the entire family, protect our four-legged   family members from these potential holiday dangers.