With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and Christmas in sight, families and friends are gathering all across the country. Sometimes those family members have fur and like to bark.
Your furry friends are probably just as excited about the holiday season as you are, but, according to local veterinarians, they are at risk of ending up at the vet’s office days after Thanksgiving or Christmas.
In order to avoid making an expensive trip to the vet or putting your lovable fur baby in harm’s way, we have come up with a list of safety tips:
- Update tags and microchips. With people coming in and out of your house all season long, it won’t take much for one of your beloved pets to make the great escape. No one wants it to happen, but just in case it does, it will help if your pet’s tags and microchips are up to date when someone finally catches your furry friend.
- Be careful what you feed your animals. Thanksgiving and Christmas are known for delicious treats, but remember your pet can’t enjoy the same things you can. Some absolute no-no’s include: bones from the Thanksgiving turkey, grapes, anything with artificial sweetener, chocolate and alcohol (from a beverage or unbaked bread).
- Leave pets in a quiet area. Keeping anxious pets in a separate room away from the hustle and bustle of the main living area can keep them from getting overwhelmed, and will help keep them from getting out the door accidentally. However, be sure you designate someone to check on them occasionally, if you go this route to keep them comfortable.
- Consider a pet sitter or boarding kennel. Air travel can be stressful and dangerous for your pets. The next time you fly somewhere, consider hiring a pet sitter or taking your pet to a kennel. A lot of kennels can groom your dog and even schedule play time.
- Keep non-food items in hard to reach areas. Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, garbage scraps and Christmas decorations like bows, ornaments and even some trees can seriously harm your pet. Make sure they are up where dogs and cats can’t reach them.
- Supervise animals and kids. Even if your pet is generally very friendly, when he or she gets stressed, he or she may lash out. Kids like to pull tails and can be a little rough, which can make even a sweet dog or cat anxious or irritated.
- Consider your pet when putting up seasonal decorations. Real Christmas trees (and the water they rest in) can be extremely harmful to dogs, as well as tinsel or ribbons. You should also be wary of cords from Christmas lights and poinsettias, which can be lethal to cats. Even seemingly simple things like holiday pet costumes can be uncomfortable and cause an otherwise calm animal to lash out or become nervous.
It’s also easy to let your dog outside while your guests are arriving and getting settled, but make sure you do not leave Fido out in the cold for too long. Following these few simple tips will help you, your guests and your furry friends have a safe and delicious holiday season.
