From snuggling on the couch while watching holiday movies to joining you and your family for a festive meal, there are lots of ways to include your furry friends in the holiday festivities. But it’s important to keep safety in mind, too, when integrating your pets into your holiday celebrations.
To Treat or Not to Treat
Chances are your pet loves food—and what better time than during the holidays to give them a special treat? However, it’s important to remember that some foods can be dangerous for pets. Chocolate and grapes or raisins are just two of the foods that can cause serious health issues for your furry friends. Also, avoid giving them fatty foods, as these can cause stomach problems or even pancreatitis. If you do want to feed them something special, opt for a healthy pet treat or safe fruits and vegetables instead. If you have a question about whether a food is safe or not, don’t guess. Give it a Google!
Holiday Decorations
Decorations are a wonderful part of holiday celebrations. But tinsel, ribbons, cords, and other small items can pose a choking hazard if swallowed by pets so make sure they are kept out of reach of curious paws. Electric cords pose a risk to curious pets who might be drawn to chew on them. Those beautiful poinsettias that we love should be put up and away from pets, as they can cause serious illness if ingested. Similarly, if you have a live Christmas tree, be sure that any water in the stand is not accessible, as this water may contain harmful bacteria or chemicals which could prove fatal for your pet if consumed.
Keeping Pets Secure
With all the visitors coming and going around during the holidays, it’s easy for pets to become overwhelmed or stressed, leading them to run off in search of refuge from all the extra noise and unfamiliar faces. To avoid an accidental escape, keep a sharp eye on all doors and keep your doors closed whenever possible. Better yet, consider putting your pet in their own space away from guests. Even if you usually don’t have collars on your pets when they are inside, it’s a good idea to put them on if you are having guests and activities at your home, just in case there is an accidental escape. Ensure that their collar tags are up-to-date with your current address and contact information.
There’s no doubt about it – including our pets in our holiday celebrations brings us immense joy and makes our festivities brighter! Just remember that while having fun is important, safety should always come first when integrating our pets into any activity or event we have planned – especially during hectic times like the holidays! With some forethought (and maybe a few tasty treats!) you can ensure that both you and your furry friend share a safe and enjoyable experience this season!
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