Protect Your Dog This Holiday Season

Autumn’s golden hue is indicating that the holiday season is just around the corner. This calls for lots of food, friendship, shopping, and family celebrations. The time unfolds much excitement and at the same time, it is stressful, not just for you but for your pet. Certainly, you do not want to end up spending the most wonderful time of the year at the veterinary clinic. To be on the safe side, there are some simple things you can do to make sure your pet enjoys a hearty and happy festive season just as you do.

Let your Guests Play a Role

Your house gets busy during the holidays with friends and relatives stopping by to visit and exchange gifts. It is important to keep in mind that influx of people can cause uneasiness for your pets. Whether they are normally sociable or not, your dog, cat, or other pet can get overexcited or nervous with an endless flow of visitors. Ask your guests to pay a little attention to your pets and keep them busy with exercises and fun games. Mentally stimulated games like hide-and-seek, pounce, tug-fetch, etc. help dogs burn energy. This way, you will have a relaxing time, and share fun moments with family and friends without having to worry about your pet’s wellbeing.

Leftovers are Not for Your Dog

It is alright to give your pet a sneak of a biscuit or two under the table, but look out for fatty, oily, spicy, and no-no holiday foods that are meant for human consumption. Probably you are aware that you should not feed chocolates and candies to your pet. But, this sweet temptation is most likely going to be spread all over the house during the holidays. Make sure you keep these sweet things away from them.

Avoid feeding your pet bones and other leftovers. These foods can upset their stomach and create health issues later on. To prevent your animals from distress and save your pocket from vet bills, it is wise to stick to their normal diet.

Last but not the least, keep unattended cocktails away from those innocent mouths. Ingesting alcohol can lead to several health problems and make animals ill.

Decorate But Do not Damage

Holiday decorations fill homes with delight and splendor, but they can cause threats to your pets. You should securely fasten your Christmas tree so that it does not droop and fall, causing injury to your animal. This will also prevent the tree water from spilling, which may contain fertilizers and bacteria.

For years, we knew that poinsettia leaves could cause health hazards if ingested by your pet. But, veterinarians have discovered that consumption of these leaves only causes digestive troubles. Still, it is best to keep your pet away from poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly.          

Cats love tinsel because it is sparkly and fun to play around. When your cat swallows tinsel mistakenly, it will lead to vomiting, obstructed digestive tract, or the need for surgery.

As you know, prevention is better than a cure. It is better to stay prepared for medical urgency. Remember, your vet may be closed during the holidays. Therefore, you should keep some other numbers (emergency clinics, etc.) handy in case you need them.

About the Author:

Panama Pet Relocation is a well-known pet relocation company with a decade plus experience in international pet shipping. Read more on how to protect dogs this holiday.