Pet Safety Over the Holidays
A Guide to Keeping Your Furballs Safe and Sane
The holidays are upon us - time for twinkling lights, presents and enough food to feed an army. But while you’re planning to eat your body weight in mashed potatoes, your pets are quietly plotting their own holiday “adventures”. Between fireworks, shiny tinsel, delicious looking treats, and a never-ending parade of guests, your pets might get into trouble when you least expect it.
Here’s your guide to pet safety over the holidays, so you can keep your pets happy, safe, and out of trouble so they can enjoy the festive season as much as you do, because, let's face it, no one wants to spend Christmas morning at the emergency vet.
Fireworks
The only thing louder? The sound of your dog’s opinion on them.
Fireworks can be a lot of fun to watch, but they can be a big source of stress for pets. The loud noises, bright flashes, and unpredictable sounds can make animals feel scared or anxious. To ensure your dog feels safe during fireworks , it's important to plan ahead, check any community pages or local events happening in your area that are advertising fireworks. This way you’ll know when to expect them and have your dog settled for them in advance! Next, make sure to keep pets indoors during firework displays, preferably in a room with no windows to shield them from the noise and light. You can help them feel more secure by playing calming music or using a white noise machine to mask the sound. If your pet is particularly sensitive, consider using calming products like anxiety wraps, our stress and anxiety probiotic, or consulting your vet for additional options. Never leave pets unattended outdoors during fireworks, as they may try to run away in fear. Finally, make sure your pet's ID tag or microchip is up to date—just in case they do escape! By following these dog firework safety tips, you can help ensure your pet stays safe and calm while you enjoy the show.
Your Christmas Tree: Is not just a Giant Cat Toy
It's easy to think of a Christmas tree as an innocent piece of holiday decor. But to your pet, it's the equivalent of a giant scratching post and an all you can eat buffet of shiny baubles. Following these Christmas safety tips for pets will help ensure your furry friends stay healthy, happy, and out of harm's way during the holiday season.
Keep it out of reach
If you have a mischievous kitten or a curious pup with a tendency to “rearrange” your ornaments, you might want to secure your tree to the wall. Cats love climbing trees and dogs love knocking them over. Adding extra stability to your tree could save you from a holiday disaster (and a broken ornament or two). This will also prevent any ornaments from falling and breaking and being eaten by your pet.
Tinsel is not a toy
As tempting as it may be to give your cat and dog the shiny stuff to play with, please don't. If ingested, tinsel can cause some seriously messy (and potentially expensive) digestive issues. The glitter might look cute but it's not fun when it's lodged in your pet’s stomach. We recommend keeping tinsel out of reach and being careful of any small strands dropping off around the house!
Water your tree carefully
If you're using a real tree, make sure your pet can't drink the water from the tree stand. Some tree preservatives and stagnant water can make your pet sick. Keep a protective cover around the base or use a pet safe tree cover.
Holiday Foods
The holidays are the worst time for your dog to practise their sad puppy eyes routine and while they absolutely deserve some extra treats (as we all do), to ensure you are implementing Christmas safety for your pet, be mindful of what foods you’re sharing with them.
Sharing Christmas Dinner
We know it's hard to resist those adorable puppy eyes, especially when they're staring up at you as you carve a ham or serving up the mashed potatoes. While there are some foods you can share with them, there are a few to be careful of – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered here: Common Christmas Foods Dogs Can’t Have and Unsafe Food For Dogs and Cats. Be especially mindful of seasonings you’ve added to any meat and veg that may contain onion powder!
If you really want to treat your pet to Christmas Turkey this year, we’ve got a great option for you that your pets will gobble up 😉.
Guests, Noise and Stress
For some pets the holiday season can be overwhelming with the constant parade of guests, unfamiliar sounds and if you’re anything like us – the general chaos which can leave your pets feeling stressed out and anxious. By following these tips for pet safety over the holidays, you’ll ensure a season of joy, laughter, and tail-wagging fun for everyone!
Create a safe space
Set up a quiet, cosy room where your pets can retreat to if they need a break from the noise, this is especially helpful if you have a dog or cat that gets nervous around strangers or loud noises. Make sure they have their bed, water and favourite toys in that space.
Be sure to keep an eye on your pets, with so many visitors coming and going it's easy for your pet to slip out unnoticed! Create a barrier to prevent escapes at your front door and consider using a pet gate if you're expecting lots of visitors.
Give them a routine
Pets thrive on routine, even with all the holiday hustle and bustle try to stick to their regular feeding, walking and sleeping schedule as much as possible. A predictable routine helps keep their anxiety at bay, if your dog's usual walk time is at 7:00am don't suddenly make it 10:00am just because you're busy. They’ll appreciate the consistency and so will you, especially when they don't chew up your new slippers out of boredom!
Glitter, Ribbons, and Tape, Oh My!
Your holiday presents are probably wrapped in shiny paper with the best bow your local store had to offer. But once your pet sees those shiny ribbons and bits of paper lying around, they’ll think it’s party time.
Beware of ribbons and strings
Cats, especially, love to bat at ribbons and string. But if swallowed, they can cause serious digestive blockages. So, keep the wrapping supplies far out of paw’s reach, and dispose of them promptly after opening presents.
Don’t forget the wrapping paper
While a crumpled ball of wrapping paper is a great cat toy, it can also be dangerous if consumed. Eating large quantities of paper can lead to intestinal blockage.
When it comes to Christmas safety for pets, remember that festive decorations can pose hidden risks. Always be mindful of what’s around and keep your furry friends safe during the season’s celebrations.
Wrapping Up 😉
The holidays are a magical time of year, and our pets deserve to be included in that celebration (which is why you should spoil them with some presents from our favourite brands!). By being mindful of your pet’s environment, learning dog firework safety and pet safety over the holidays and keeping some simple safety precautions in mind, you can ensure that your furry friend has just as much of a stress-free, joyful season as you do.
Just remember your dog doesn't need any more reasons to act out during family gatherings this year! Happy Howl-idays to you and your pets from our team at Big Dog!