Keeping Your Pet Healthy During the Holidays! It’s wonderful to take extra precautions during the holidays to keep our pets feeling their best.
We could only guess at what they are thinking…….. trees come in the house with sparkly balls and ornaments, pretty boxes with ribbon appear on the floor, and all the food on the counter!
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If you love reading about how to enhance your pets life, you’ll like 9 tips to Improve Your Dog’s Health and Happiness.
I will briefly touch on a few areas we can easily take precautions in to keep all furry family members safe and healthy. As for the seasoned pet owners, may these tips be helpful reminders to us all!
Christmas Decorations and Food
Cats and dogs each handle the holidays differently, And even then, no cat or dog is alike either!
Please know I am speaking mostly from experiences with our pet dogs. My family had cats when I was young, so I do a remember a few Christmas mornings with a cat inside a box or playing with wrapping paper.
8 Helpful Tips plus 4 Food Cautions:
- Hang ornaments out of reach.
- Practice “leave it” with your dog. Be consistent and confident, they will get it!
- Take precautions with a live tree; keep the water so it’s not excess-able by any animals. Most trees have been sprayed with preservatives and additives, and this could be leached into the water. We have heard of cats trying to eat the needles off the tree as well.
- Hide your cords or protect them from small dogs and frisky cats.
- Flowers and plants associated with the holidays need to be out of reach. (Examples are mistletoe, amaryllis, balsam, pine, cedar, and poinsettias).
- Be cautious with candles and potpourris.
- Ribbons and gift wrap are a huge attraction on Christmas morning. Be alert when unwrapping gifts. Pets have been known to suffocate in bags and choke on ribbons.
- Keep people food off limits. (A couple exceptions might be raw vegetables such as green beans, brussel sprouts or carrots.)
About all that holiday food – a great reminder!
- Keep chocolate out of reach! The compounds in cocoa are lethal to a dog.
- No artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, it could send your pet into kidney failure.
- Raw bread dough is dangerous due to the yeast component.
- No artificial colors or additives for our pets! Their bodies do not recognize these chemicals.
15 Foods Dogs and Cats Should Never Eat by Dr. Andrew Jones
When Guests Arrive
Christmas and New Year’s are exciting times for us! We have extra energy and overall fun anticipation of friends and family coming to visit. Your pet picks up on all that energy and often does not know what it means. Remember your 4 legged friend and prepare them for the holidays.
- Designate a quiet and safe place for your pet (Our dog loves his crate and will happily crash on his comfy bed.)
- Communicate your expectations to your guests. Let them know great ways to respond when your dog greets them at the door. We often keep our dog on a leash in the house when people start to arrive. The dog learns to greet nicely and the guest can relax and make themselves comfortable.
- Be EXTRA CAUTIOUS with food. We have a dog that likes to explore the counter tops, so we never leave food unattended or too close to the edge. Your guests are not aware of this, so look out for everyone. Consider having your dog or cat in a safe place while food is served. Our dog loves frozen toys stuffed with peanut butter & pumpkin, so this a wonderful time for him to enjoy his treat while we dine with our guests.
- Trash cans need to be out of reach or have a safety on them.
- Keep shoes, gloves, and mittens in a basket or on a top shelf.
- Be aware of loud noises, especially if your pet is not used to this type of noise indoors.
- Establish house rules with your family, your pet and your guests.
Traveling with Your Pet
Will you be bringing your pet with you? Pets can be great travelers. It’s great to set them up for success. Again, these tips are reminders for you.
- Before traveling, it’s helpful to have your pet microchipped & wearing a tag.
- Bring along your rabies certificate. We keep one in the vehicle, as it’s needed at most campgrounds and when we cross the border into Canada.
- Pack familiar items like a travel crate, blanket, toys, and treats.
- Be patience with them, and praise often if it’s their first time in a hotel or in an elevator. Our dog responds well to “high-reward” treats while walking nicely through a hotel and especially when we have to share the elevator with other people, luggage or dogs.
- Enter the new situation (home, hotel, etc.) before your dog. This simple move lets them know you are in charge and will look out for them.
- Create a packing list for you & your pet.
Simple Packing List:
- Travel crate and pad (or blanket)
- Dishes – water & food
- Food – pack extra
- Extra water – sometimes pets prefer water from home or bottled water
- Clean up supplies (little spray bottle of cleaner & paper towel)
- Poo bags Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags, 270 Extra Thick and Strong Poop Bags for Dogs
- Paperwork – rabies certificate & certificate of ownership
- Treats – reward for good behavior and new situations
- Harness & Leashes – one leather and one leisure Braided Leather Dog Training Leash 6 Foot
- Can of pumpkin – in case they are constipated or have diarrhea
- First Aid Kit – RC Pet Products Pet First Aid Kit
- Toys – we try to save a new “elk antler” for travel. Visit Michigan Antler Chews.
Do you need dog friendly hotels, cabins, campgrounds or airbnb’s? I like Bring Fido.com.
Gifts for Your Pet
Do you buy a Christmas present for your dog or cat? Our family enjoys buying our pets gifts. You’ll see gifts for the chickens, fish, dog, rabbit, and neighbor’s cats all under our tree! Now we usually keep it practical, but it’s fun for all nevertheless.
Gift ideas for your pets:
- New bed, crate liner, or cat cave
- Collar, leash, brush
- Toys – elk antlers are fantastic for chewers! (DOGS)
- Toys – feather wand (CATS)
- Interactive toys – for all animals (dogs, cats, rabbits) Trixie Pet Products Flip Board
- Dog backpack
- Dog lifejacket (our lab is not a good swimmer and enjoys the water so much better.)
- Personalized treat jar
- Elevated feeding station Adjustable Raised Dog Bowls, Waterproof Elevated Dog Bowls Design, Silicone Mat and 4 Stainless Steel Bowls
- Paw print ornaments
Gifts to Avoid: rawhide bones, latex toys and treats with artificial colors, flavors and sugars. Be smart for dogs that are hard chewers; avoid toys with stuffing, squeakers, or parts they can chew off and swallow.
Keeping Your Pet Healthy During the Holidays
I wish you a joyful Christmas with your pets and remember to take the necessary precautions to keep them safe. Take a second to look over your Christmas decorations and remind family members and guests about your “pet house rules.”
Set yourself and your pet up for a successful travel experience! Plan ahead, be prepared and you’ll be off to a wonderful start.
Have fun giving a gift to your furry family member! Our family pets are loved and I imagine yours are too!! Our pooch will love a new bag of Nubonubs and a new forked elk antler.
Wishing you and your pets a Wonderful Christmas!!!