The best thing about the holiday season is the opportunity to once again be with your family and to celebrate it as a whole. Pets should not be left out of the fun during this season of cheers. They are also an important part of the family, so it is just appropriate that we celebrate this holiday season with their safety in our minds.
Here are some tips from Trisha Gedon of High Plains Journal.
1. Keep your pet's exercise and eating schedule relatively normal. Everyone is running around corners during this season and there are times that we often forget to turn an eye to the exercise and eating schedule of our pets. According to Elisabeth Giedt, director of Continuing Education, Extension and Community Engagement at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University, owners should try to keep the eating and exercise schedule of their beloved pets as close to normal as possible.
2. Keep your Christmas Tree safe and secure. It is very important to check the stability of you Christmas Tree to avoid it from tripping over. The cleanliness of tree waters should also be checked because contaminated tree waters can cause nausea and diarrhea. Utah's People Post advised that you should avoid using tinsel on your tree if you own a cat. Cats are easily attracted to things that are shiny and sparkly. If an animal swallowed tinsel it can lead to severe vomiting, dehydration and possibly an obstruction in the digestive tract which may require surgery.
3. Electrical wire should be hidden. Electrical wires are alluring to the eyes of your pets. Be sure to keep it hidden behind appliance or hard to reach places. Also consider using tape, cord protectors, or spiral cable wrap.
4. Avoid lighting scented candles or burning incense. The last thing you want for this holiday season is losing your home due to a fire caused by a candle tripped over by your pet. Candle wax can also hurt or burn your pets. If you have birds, you should think twice before burning incense. Birds are very susceptible to airborne toxins and smoke inhalation.
5. Never leave your foods unattended. Always keep your foods away from your pets. There are some foods and beverages during this holiday season that are very dangerous to your pets. Alcoholic beverages should be kept hidden or put on a place that are not reachable by your pets. Alcohol can make your pet weak, ill or possible even induce a coma when consumed.
Finally, if you are planning to have a loud party and is expecting a lot of guest, it is advisable to make your pet their own room, it can be your bedroom or laundry as long as your guests don't wander near that area. Leave your pet with ample amount of food and water. Also check if your pet is comfortable being in that room.