The holiday season is upon us as the festivities are about to begin. One thing that some people do during the holiday season is that they forget their furry friends. It is easy to forget your cats and dogs during the festivities, but you have to ensure they are safe from things that can cause health hazards and damage. Be very specific about implementing pet safety tips during the holiday.
If you put in a little effort, you can ensure your holiday plans are pet friendly. This effort will also allow your pets to enjoy the holiday season as much as you and your family. Of course, they also deserve the break after a tiring year of fetching the ball and being a good boy.
Keep Toxic Food Out of Their Reach
We can all raise our hands for being guilty of giving our furry friends tidbits of everything we are munching on. But beware because some foods really can cause a lot of harm to them. When your pet eats toxic items, it can have digestive and pancreatitis problems. Some of these issues can cause your pet’s health to deteriorate quickly and be fatal.
Chocolate is the most renowned food that can harm your pets. So, we will skip that and move on to others most pet owners don’t know. Listed below are some other foods that can harm or injure your pets:
- Onions and Garlic
- Fatty, spicy, and salty foods
- Foods with excessive amounts of sugar
- Caffeinated beverages and alcohol
- Raisins, grapes, and nuts
It is best to pick up a special treat, especially for them, from the nearby store rather than giving them your leftovers. If you suspect your pet is behaving weirdly and might have ingested something toxic, you should contact the nearest emergency veterinary clinic for quick help.
Avoid Dangerous Décor
Being responsible with your decorations is the day’s call. Your home might look complete during the holiday seasons without embellishments, but you should also ensure that your decorations protect your pet’s safety. Here are things to consider and check with your decorating and your have fur babies in the home:
Your tree has to be secured with a solid base, ensuring it does not fall over.
Keep small decorations out of harm’s way by placing them away from your pet’s reach. A kitten or a small pup might confuse the ornaments with a small toy. Thus, keep breakable ornaments away from their reach to prevent any injuries.
Be careful with the strings and ribbons you leave on the floor after wrapping your gifts. Strings may become lodged in their intestines and cause serious impediments requiring surgery. Try using more eco-friendly packaging that can be considered safer for your pets and the environment.
Light Safety
Candles play an important role in setting the aesthetic appeal of a place during the holiday season, but they also pose a severe threat of injuries to your beloved pets in case of an incident. Always ensure that you leave your candles on sturdy surfaces, away from the reach of your pets. More importantly, ensure your candles are not lit when you are there to when they are burning.
You might have seen your cat playfully chew through your phone cord, but the whole scenario can take a nasty turn regarding strings of lights. Much care is needed to ensure that everything is safe and nothing is left unattended when it comes to candles and other electrical lighting equipment.
Travel Safely
The holiday season often means that you need to travel a lot. Depending on your plans, your pet may or may not be part of the traveling experience, but if they are, you need to cater to their needs. You must prepare for them in advance if you travel in a car. Get a kennel if you can and make a makeshift home for them in the back of the vehicle. This will ensure that your pet gets to be around you during the holidays and remain entirely safe despite all the traveling. Do not compromise on pet safety during the travels, as pets tend to get fidgety if you go for a long journey interstate.
Prevent Your Pet from Getting Out
One of the most dreaded incidents that can happen during the holiday season is to have your pet slip out through the main gate amid the plethora of guests going in and out. Your four-legged family member may try to make a mad dash when people are coming in and out of the house.
Keep Them Calm and Enjoy the Season
Depending on the number of guests visiting your home, your pet might get flustered and agitated. You can have a safe retreat in the house, where they can go and have some good alone time. Anyways, you still need to be aware of ways to calm down your pet if they get a panic attack and start acting weirdly. Calm them down naturally and ensure you and your furry friend make the most of the holidays and have a fun-filled time together.
If you put in a little effort when making your holiday plans, you can easily make them pet friendly. This way, you and your furry friend can enjoy the holidays together stress-free.
