The holidays are a fun time. However, there are many things that can harm your pet. You need to take the following steps in order to keep your pet safe.
1- Set Rules for Guests
If you are having guests over, then it is a good idea to set rules. They may want to play with your pets. However, if your pets do not feel comfortable around guests, then you should kindly ask your guests to avoid playing with your pets. This can prevent an attack.
2- Put Your Pet in a Room of Their Own
All of the activities that are going on in your home can stress your pet out. That is why it is a good idea for you to put your pet in a room of their own. This area should have food, water and a comfortable place to sleep. If you have a dog, then you should let them out several times a day. Put a litter box in the room if you have a cat.
3- Keep Holiday Foods Out of Reach
There is nothing wrong with giving your pet some treats. However, many of the holiday foods are not good for your pet. It isn’t a good idea to give your pet anything sweet. There are many sugar-sweetened foods that have xylitol in them. This is a sweetener that can be harmful to animals.
Fatty and spicy foods are examples of other ones that need to be avoided. Additionally, alcoholic beverages should be kept out of reach of pets. Alcohol can cause serious damage to your pet’s health. If they drink too much, then they can end up being in a coma.
There are some healthy treats that your pet can enjoy. Catnip treats are an example of something that you can feed your cat. If you have a dog, then you can feed them apple cheddar biscuits and turkey/cranberry dog bones.
4- Secure Your Christmas Tree
Pets are attracted to Christmas trees. You need to secure your tree in order to prevent them from knocking it down. You can prevent a cat from climbing your tree by hanging a lemon-scented air freshener on it.
5- Keep Holiday Plants Out of the Reach of Pets
There are many holiday plants that can harm your pet. This includes things such as lilies, mistletoes and Holly. Poinsettias are mildly toxic plants. Keep your pets away from them. If your pet accidentally consumes one of these plants, then you should take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
5- Put the Medications Away
Many human medications can be harmful to pets. Keep them in a medicine cabinet. If you have guests over, then you should encourage them to keep the medication in a cabinet.
6- Keep Your Pet Away From Wires and Ornaments
Lights and ornaments can make your home look beautiful. However, they can hurt your pet. The wires from the lights can cause an electric shock. Small ornaments can be a choking hazard for your pet. A broken ornament can also cut your pet. Make sure that your pets are kept away from the wires and ornaments.
