Keep pets safe over the holidays with a few simple precautions

You silly dog

I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had some wonderful pets in my life — all very dear to me.

If you’ve had similar close relationships with pets, then you know they love to participate in holiday festivities. They don’t celebrate. But they sure know something exciting is going on.

Unfortunately, the holiday environment isn’t quite as safe as the everyday setting they’re used to. A few simple precautions can help avoid turning something merry into something tragic.

Festivities at floor level

The ASPCA stresses continuity for your pets over the holidays. Pets will be happier if exercise and eating schedules stay as close to normal as possible.

And then, there are safety concerns. Looking over the ASPCA article, I’ve picked out the top five tips to help pets stay safe.

1. Keep holiday plants out of reach. Holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, and lilies are toxic if ingested by dogs or cats.

2. Keep pets away from the Christmas tree. I know this is probably easier said than done, but it’s definitely worth trying. A friend of mine had a kitten that climbed up the trunk of his tree, and then basically froze near the top. It wouldn’t go up and couldn’t get down. Extracting it from a tree filled with lights and ornaments was stressful for both kitten and kitten wrangler. Also, pets like to chew on light cords. The danger there is pretty obvious.

3. Make sure tree water isn’t accessible to pets. The water breeds bacteria and contains fertilizer residue.

4. Ribbon, yarn, tinsel, and confetti are potentially dangerous. If pets chew or swallow these items, it can cause severe intestinal blockage.

5. You’re probably aware that chocolate can be toxic to dogs. But it doesn’t agree with cats either. The same goes for the alternative sweetener xylitol. Keep all chocolate and xylitol products away from cats and dogs.

Holiday excitement can be as stressful for many pets as it is for us humans. The festive “treat” they need most is the same one we all need: reassurance with love and attention.

Wishing you — and your pets — a very happy holiday season from everyone at HSI.

Sources:
“Holiday Safety Tips” ASPCA, aspca.org