CHEAT LAKE, W.Va. (WBOY) -- The holiday season is meant to be a good time spent with friends and family, and for many people, that family includes a dog, cat or some other furry friend. But it's always important to make sure our pets are safe and healthy.

12 News spoke with veterinary surgeon and owner of the Cheat Lake Animal Hospital Jesse Fallon about the most common reasons for pet emergency room visits, particularly during the holiday season.

"As a general rule, we do see more emergency room veterinary cases around the holidays than during the rest of the year," Fallon said.

"One of the most common things that we see are gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhea or pancreatitis from things like really high-fat foods that they wouldn't normally get. Maybe you [...] give them a whole bunch of that roast that you had in the crock pot all day with a bunch of fat, that has a high likelihood of, not necessarily poisoning your pet, but causing major gastrointestinal upset."

Many foods can be dangerous for pets to eat, including raisins, onions, garlic, some nuts and of course, chocolate.

Most pet owners also know that their animals might like to eat things that aren't necessarily food. Fallon said some common items he's seen eaten by pets include small presents or wrapping paper, hand warmers, tinsel or tree ornaments.

For more information, the Humane Society of the United States has its own list of poisonous food and plants that can be dangerous for animals. If your pet does eat something they weren't supposed to and you're worried your pet could be in danger, you can call the Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

The other most common reason for a pet to be taken to the emergency room is trauma injuries. Pet injuries could happen for several reasons Fallon said. If a relative brings their pet, two animals could get into a fight over food and get bitten. Another example Fallon gave is that a visitor could leave a front door open, the pet could leave the house, wander into the street and be struck by a vehicle.

With low temperatures, Fallon said it's also a good idea to bring animals indoors to make sure they are safe at night.

"Certainly, if you get to the point where that water bowl's freezing, you need to be thinking about getting them in a warmer location."

For more advice, you can read additional holiday pet safety tips from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States.