How to have a pet friendly Christmas: While Christmas is an exciting time of year for the family, it can be both stressful and potentially dangerous for your pet. Follow our top tips to make sure your pet stays safe and stress-free this festive season.
Candles
Candles decorate many of our homes over Christmas, but wagging tails from excited dogs mean they are easily knocked over and can prove a fire risk.
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees may look festive but they are not very pet friendly.
Always anchor your Christmas tree to ensure it can’t topple over and hurt them.
The water in your tree stand can become stagnant and drinking it could make your pet very ill. Make sure you change it or ensure that your pet can’t get to it.
Be sure to vacuum often to clear up fallen pine needles so your pet can’t eat them. Pine needles can puncture your pet’s intestines if ingested and pine sap is poisonous to cats and dogs.
Leave lower branches without decorations so your pet can’t play or eat them. Or invest in the new pet-friendly half parasol trees that only have branches on the top half. Not having branches with baubles and bows on the bottom half minimises the danger to your pet.
Don’t put chocolate decorations on your Christmas tree if you have pets.
Decorations
Choose non-toxic decorations.
Tinsel and silver strands on the tree can be enticing for your pet but can cause bowel obstructions if they eat them. If they do eat them, it could make them seriously ill surgery and require them to have surgery.
Avoid glass ornaments that pets may try and bite. Also, if glass decorations fall and break, the shards could also easily injure their paws.
Edible decorations such as popcorn garlands, candy sticks and chocolate decorations are not advised and should never be left in reach of your pets. Read our blog on festive foodstuffs that may harm your dog here.
Having edible decorations on the tree will also encourage them to jump and try and reach them.
Fairy Lights
Get a cable guard for your fairy lights as cats, dogs and rabbits might attempt to chew through wires, this might lead them to be electrocuted.
Some pets may find flashing lights on trees distressing and stressful and may want to pull or play with tree decorations.
Lights can cause burns on cats and dogs if your pet becomes entangled in the wire.
Festive stress
The change in routine can worry pets.
To reduce their festive stress, try to maintain their routines for food, exercise, bed and toilet breaks. Consistency can increase a pet’s sense of security.
Offer a cosy retreat, away from the noise and excitement (and children), so your pet can have some peace and quiet. Leave toys there to create positive associations with the retreat.
Fires
Open fires and gas fires can burn your pet if they get too close, sparks from an open fire can also cause burns. Use a fireguard to make sure they don’t singe their fur or blister their skin.
Guests
Houses full of people, with extra visitors and excited children, can be extremely stressful for your pet.
Children can be overpowering, desperately wanting to stroke and pester them.
The additional stress of unfamiliar noises and overstimulation can cause them to snap. Be very sensitive as to when your pet needs a break. Remind guests not to feed your pets any scraps.
Ibuprofen
Sugar-coated Ibuprofen tablets are very appealing to dogs. If you suspect they have eaten them you need to get immediate veterinary help. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding from the gut, stomach ulceration and kidney failure.
Medication
If your pet takes any medication, make sure you have enough supply to see you through the holiday season when the Surgery may be closed.
Presents
The same dangerous bowel obstructions may occur if your pet ingests wrapping paper or ribbons. When wrapping presents keep your pets out of the way and if you’ve got a very inquisitive pet who might try and eat wrapping on presents then it may be advisable to keep the presents out of sight or somehow ring fence your Christmas tree and your presents, so your pet can’t get to them. Dispose carefully of any string or ribbon so your pet can’t eat it or get entangled in it.
Pet presents
Rather than feeding pets potentially harmful or unhealthy foods, give them gifts of new toys, collars or extra attention instead.
Pets should be given pet toys – children’s toys will not adhere to pet safety standards and could prove hazardous.
Plants
Holly, ivy, poinsettia and mistletoe are all common Christmas plants; however, they are all poisonous and extremely toxic for your pet. Amaryllis and ferns are also toxic to cats and dogs. Never leave them accessible to your pet.
Silica Gel
Silica gel comes in small sachets and is used to keep moisture out of electrical equipment, clothes, bags or toys. It is small and easily missed so be aware to look out for it. It is toxic to humans and pets.
Travel
If you’re going away over Christmas, make sure you don’t leave your pet alone for too long. If they are travelling with you, take something familiar with them to help them settle into your guest accommodation.
Turkey bones
Don’t let your pet eat turkey or chicken bones, they can splinter and rupture their gut.
Vets
Have the contact details of the emergency vet ready in case of accidents or if your pet eats something they shouldn’t.
Walkies
Make sure your dog enjoys long walks to ensure they are tired to stop any bored or disruptive behaviour. The same applies to humans too!
Emma is also the founder of First Aid for Pets offering first aid training courses for your pets https://firstaidforpets.net/
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