THE holiday season is primetime for vet visits and pet injuries.

The best way to make sure your pet is safe is to be vigilant around these three big factors - heat, predators, and festive food.

That’s right, it is not just snakes and summer heat that can be a threat - the humble Christmas ham is just as dangerous, according to The Pet Palace owner, Julie Worthy.

“Ham is probably the worst one,” she told The Spectator.

“Ham is a cured meat, there are some toxins in the salt cure that really do not agree with dogs.

“It is basically poison and it can actually kill them.

“Finishing the Christmas ham and throwing the dog the bone? That’s definitely a no-no.”

Everyone should know chocolate, onions, stuffing, and macadamia are all dangerous for dogs.

“You are definitely not going to give them any fruitcake, Christmas pudding, even the humble pavlova,” she said.

RSPCA Victoria’s chief vet, Dr Bronwyn Oke, agreed.

“Popular snacks around this time of year often have ingredients like sultanas and chocolate which are toxic to pets, but macadamias and alcohol are also dangerous and can require urgent treatment by a vet when consumed.”

With many vets about to head on holiday like the rest of us, there is no guarantee your pet will be able to access treatment.

Still, everyone deserves a treat at Christmas time, so what better way to reward your pet than with something you know they will love, like a raw bone, or raw eggs to increase the shine in their coat.

Often we think of dogs as able to eat anything because they are so keen to wolf down just about anything you offer them, but their bodies are really only built to digest meats and some fruit, vegetables and grains.

It is easy to forget that not all of our furry friends can handle the heat as well as others.

“Ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, they really struggle in the heat,” Mrs Worthy said.

“They can’t regulate their own temperature.

“Putting ice blocks in their outdoor enclosures just does not work; parking them under a tree does not work.

“If you know it is going to be over 30 degrees for two or three days in a row, bring them inside.

“Even a cardboard box in the laundry is so much better than leaving them out there to struggle.”

And with the summer sun staying up longer than ever, it is primetime for snakes to be on the move.

When taking the dog for a walk on those post-feast calorie burning walks, stay away from overgrown areas.

Do not be afraid to put your hound back on the leash if snakes could be a risk.

It is also worth remembering that young pets may mistake Christmas gifts for toys, and can easily hurt themselves on plastic, metal and glass, so RSPCA Victoria animal welfare manager, Nadia Peiris, recommends keeping them out of reach.

“Plants and flowers are a popular gift, and people are surprised to learn some popular plants like lilies and aloe vera are highly toxic to cats and dogs, and even can be fatal without urgent treatment.”