How to Make the Holidays Safer for Your Pets
The holidays can be ruff. New people, new places and new smells can make a dog do crazy things because, hey, ‘tis the season. While magical and wonderful, the holiday season can be a lot for your four legged friend whether you decide to host or travel to a destination full of family and friends. Here are 5 simple ways to help make the holidays a little less overwhelming and much safer for your furry friends.
1. Keep your guests and visitors in the loop. Whether everyone is coming to your house or you’re traveling for the holidays, a great way to keep up with your pet’s safety is to prep your guests on your pet rules. Let them know how you feel about table scraps, when they’re in a playful mood and when they need to be left alone. You should also keep an eye on kids around your pets. Sometimes becoming scared or frightened can lead to unpredictable or aggressive behaviors, so keep a watchful eye on interactions.
2. Christmas trees, while pretty, can have some dangers associated with them. Some cats and dogs enjoy nibbling on the branches of the trees, but beware of this behavior. Ingesting pine needles can cause problems with their intestinal tract if the branches bunch together or start puncturing their lining. The water at the base of the tree can cause some problems if it becomes stagnant. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, giving your pet nausea or diarrhea if they drink from it. When it comes to ornaments, it’s best to keep all glass, salt dough and small ornaments away from the bottom of the tree. Broken glass can lead to cuts on paws and too much salt dough ornaments can lead to dehydration or salt poisoning.
3. Watch what gifts you put under the tree. If you are gifting or receiving gifts that are edible and putting them under the tree, think twice when it comes to your pets. Any food-related gifts should be kept off of the floor and away from your furry friends, especially if they contain chocolate or candy. Even though they may be wrapped, curious pets can sniff them out and eat through the packaging. Scented candles and soaps should also be moved from under the tree because keen noses can also pick up on their smells and think that they are food to eat.
4. Be cautious with wrapping paper and the extras that come with it. For the most part, wrapping paper is perfectly fine when it comes to playtime for your pet. Eating some wrapping paper isn’t terrible but you do need to watch for what can be on the wrapping paper, such as glitter, ribbon, string, yarn and any embellishments that were added extra to the wrapping paper. If ingested, any of these items could lead to choking, blockages or even intestinal problems. To be on the safe side, have a trash bag ready to go so wrapping paper and its accessories can be put away as soon as presents are opened.
5. Make sure your expectations for your pets are kept on the realistic side of things. Everyone wants their holiday to be smooth sailing, especially when it comes to their pets, but we shouldn’t expect more from them than what they are capable of. You know your pet best and you know how much excitement, noise and activity they can handle; so keep them to what they know and make sure they have a place to go to rest or recharge if things become too much. Remember to not place your pets outside in the cold weather if they become too excited or anxious and provide lots of toys for them to play with. Keep them on their normal walking and play schedule to help with their energy and tire them out a little when guests do come over.
So whether you deck the halls at home or afar, keeping your pets safe and their best interests at heart can help everyone have a merrier holiday. Remember that pets are simple creatures and too much can make them turn into a grinch, so let them tell you (in their own way) when it’s time for them to have a break or they’re done.
Still looking for that paw-fect present for your pup? A daily dog walker would be a great addition to their schedule for the holidays and beyond! Going Mutts Pet Services strives to provide peace of mind and lots of belly rubs to make your furry friend’s experience nothing short of being paw-sitively purrfect. Potty breaks, cat and dog check-ins and pet sitting are also some other services we provide for the Lancaster, PA and surrounding areas. Check out our website or fill out our contact form to let us know how we can help with your pet care needs.
Sources:
https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/holiday-pet-safety
https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/dog-wrapping-paper-cat-safe
