As the holiday season approaches, your home becomes a magical wonderland of twinkling lights, tempting treats, and joyful celebrations. While preparing for the upcoming holidays, keep your furry pal in mind by taking a few extra precautions to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Follow our Animal Hospital of Stoney Creek team’s five safety tips to help guarantee your holiday festivities go forward without a hitch.
#1: Make your own pet-safe holiday treats
Although your pet is drooling over your holiday feast, many festive foods people eat are dangerous for cats and dogs. Avoid giving your furry pal the following:
- Turkey skin, drumsticks, and bones
- Ham
- Garlic, onions, and chives
- Grapes, raisins, and currants
- Casseroles
- Butter, cream, and other dairy products
- Foods high in fat or salt
- Spices and seasonings
- Nuts
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Xylitol
To fulfill your dog’s or cat’s wish for a festive treat, make your own pet-safe holiday treats to help prevent them from ingesting toxic and hazardous ingredients. In addition, you could modify some dishes from your own feast and make them pet-friendly by skipping seasonings, spices, sugar, and dairy products. Plate up small portions of plain mashed sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, banana chunks, and boneless, skinless, unseasoned turkey breast pieces.
You might also consider baking homemade treats for your furry pal. Use healthy ingredients that are packed with nutrition and flavor. Your pet will thank you for goodies made from peanut butter, cheese, or tuna.
#2: Teach your guests pet-iquette
Some guests do not understand how to interact appropriately with pets, inadvertently frightening or harming them. As your guests arrive, provide tips on how they can safely and politely interact with your pet. Instruct guests that rather than chasing or cornering your pet, they should allow your furry pal to approach them for praise, pats, and approved treats.
Another important tip to share with your guests concerns their belongings. Curious pets want to investigate the unfamiliar scents from coats, purses, and suitcases, potentially nosing open pockets and ingesting hazardous or toxic items. Ensure that your guests store all personal items in a secure spot your pet can’t reach. In addition, ask guests to keep bedroom doors closed at all times to prevent your pet from getting into something harmful.
#3: Pet-proof your decorations
Holiday decorations’ novelty intrigue pets, and an encounter can result in some dangerous and messy situations. To prevent a decoration disaster, pet-proof your decor by following these tips:
- Skipping the tinsel and garland — Cats are especially drawn to shiny strings, but they can develop a potentially fatal gastrointestinal (GI ) blockage (i.e., a linear foreign body) if they ingest tinsel or garland. To help keep your cat out of trouble, skip string-like decorations altogether.
- Blocking off the Christmas tree — The Christmas tree presents all sorts of hazards a naughty pet can encounter, especially if they like to climb and chew. If your pet ingests Christmas tree needles and sap, they can develop stomach irritation. Prevent your dog or cat from drinking stagnant, chemical-laden tree stand water, because your pet can experience toxicity. If your cat takes a flying leap toward your tree, they may knock it over. Block off your Christmas tree to keep it and your furry pal safe.
- Swapping out hazardous ornaments — Rather than using glass, ceramic, porcelain, or salt dough ornaments, decorate your tree with soft, unbreakable ornaments. In addition, when hanging ornaments, do not use metal hooks.
- Hiding electrical cords — Electrical cords can tempt a curious pet who likes to chew. However, if your dog or cat bites into an electrical cord, they may receive a shocking surprise. Use cord covers or position cords creatively to ensure your pet can’t reach them.
#4: Monitor your pet around the gifts
Whether gifts for family, friends, or your pet, your four-legged friend is bound to sniff out these interesting new items under the Christmas tree. Keep your pet—and your presents—safe by avoiding the following hazards:
- Gift wrapping — When wrapping gifts, skip the ribbon. Your furry pal may view the brightly wrapped parcels adorned with bouncy ribbons as a fun new toy, but ribbons can cause serious, potentially fatal harm if your pet ingests it.
- Tempting treats — If you are gifting food items, your four-legged friend will be able to sniff out the presents containing enticing treats. Avoid the temptation by stashing food gifts in a place your pet cannot reach.
- Dyed dangers — Holiday treats are often made with bright dyes to attract pet owners’ eyes, but these artificial ingredients can seriously upset your pet’s stomach. In addition, many brightly colored treats include difficult-to-digest rawhide or are loaded with fat, sugar, and calories, so stick to giving your pet healthy treats you know they love.
#5: Choose pet-friendly holiday clothing
Some pets are exceptionally tolerant and will wear an elf or reindeer costume with dignity. If your furry pal tolerates wearing clothing, outfit them in a well-fitted costume that does not impair their mobility, breathing, or vision. Monitor your pet’s comfort, and remove the costume if they appear uncomfortable or stressed.
Rather than tying a pair of antlers to your pet’s head, deck them out for cold weather by dressing them in a Santa Claus sweater. Adorable costumes make great memories, but they provide little protection against frigid Ontario conditions.
We hope your holiday celebrations are merry and bright, and your pet stays off the naughty list as they encounter holiday hazards. However, no matter how much you prepare, your furry pal can still get into trouble. If they do, call our Animal Hospital of Stoney Creek team.
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