5 Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Holidays

The holiday season is here, and with it are all the festivities and celebrations. Making plans, decorating the home, hosting guests, and everything that goes into the holiday festivities can be overwhelming.

With everything going on, it can be easy to overlook your furry friend. Amid all the activities and excitement, your pet can find himself at risk. There are things that you can do to keep your pet happy and safe during the holidays.

Creating a Safe Space

During the holidays, the home can become a busy place with people coming and going. Amid all the food, gifts, and people stopping by, the environment can be very different for your pet. It is vital to realize that all the activities can be very stressful for your pet. 

A change in the home environment can cause the pet to become anxious or overexcited. It is a good idea to create a space where the pet can be alone. Having a safe space will allow the pet to retreat there when everything becomes too much. 

Dangerous Decorations

The holidays are not complete without the decorations. Unfortunately, holiday decorations can be hazardous for your pets. All the extra lights can add to the animal’s stress. Chewing on bulbs and wires can cause serious injuries. 

Swallowing holiday decorations can also cause poisoning, and the small items can be a choking hazard. It is a good idea to place the breakable décor out of reach. Choose plastic rather than glass bulbs, and try to keep an eye on your pet when they are around the displays. 

Holiday Food

Food and holidays are synonymous. Your pet will be around plenty of desserts and enticing food during the holiday season. This means they may be exposed to food hazards. Many holiday desserts include nuts and chocolate that can be toxic to animals. 

The ingredients can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, hyperactivity, seizures, and heart arrhythmias. Candies, cookies, and other sweets can harm the digestive system or become choking hazards. Make sure you keep your pet away from the food and do not feed him scraps off the table. 

Harmful Plants

Many of the plants associated with the holidays can be very dangerous for pets. Plants such as holly, pine needles, mistletoe, and poinsettias can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. The plants can cause diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, erratic behavior, and collapsing. 

Keep your pet away from the tree. A falling Christmas tree can cause serious injury. Do not allow your pet to drink from the tree stand as water can be toxic. It can also contain bacteria if it remains stagnant for a long time. Cover the tree stand to remove the temptation. 

Holiday Gifts

Exchanging gifts is all part of the holidays. If you have a pet around the home, you need to be careful about the gifts you have. Watching your pet rolling around during gift exchanges can be fun, but you need to be careful. Wrapping paper and ribbons can be a serious choking hazard. Throw out any wrappers as soon as possible.

For more tips on keeping your pets safe, visit Community Pet Outreach at our office in Lewisville, Texas. You can call (972) 848-8930 today to schedule an appointment.