Keeping Your Pets Safe During The Holidays

Our furry soulmates are an important part of our holiday tradition and they’re counting on us to keep them safe.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Unless you’re a beloved pet. In that case, it might be confusing, scary, and chaotic. That’s because while their humans may be bustling to & fro and bringing festive cheer into their homes, there are new things for pets to discover and navigate that can create a disruptive scene for our creatures of habit.

To help keep your pets safe this holiday season, we’ve compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts to keep the scaries away… and avoid an unwanted trip to the vet’s office.

DO

• Consider an artificial tree. In addition to eliminating a dog’s tendency to, um, “claim it as their own,” it takes away a pet’s temptation to eat the needles and drink the reservoir stand water, which can have harmful additives. 
   
• Whichever tree you choose, make sure it’s secured or out of reach of curious animals. (This is true for toddlers, too!) There are endless hilarious clips of what happens when pets (and to be honest, it’s mostly cats) are tempted to climb to new heights. 
   
• Keep your trees, lights, or other large ornamental pieces securely anchored so they don’t tip and fall or break. Not only will this protect your prized ornaments, but it will prevent all that weight from falling onto your pet. 
   
• When hosting holiday parties, be conscious of your pet’s needs and your guests’ needs (especially those who are uncomfortable around animals). Make sure your pet has a quiet space to retreat to when they feel shy or overwhelmed. Check on them occasionally and be sure there is plenty of fresh water and a place to snuggle safely until things have quieted down. 
   
• Have calming snacks, weighted blankets, or anti-anxiety medication for animals that need a little extra care during festivities.
   
• Keep food and drinks out of reach and secure the lids on garbage and recycling cans. Also, guests (especially the kiddos) should be discouraged from feeding pets from holiday plates.
   
• Be sure to remove pet hair that can trigger allergies, keep cages and litter boxes fresh, and have towels and cleanser handy for any slobbery kisses that get shared.
   
• Check with your vet at what temperature your pet might need a sweater, and remember to take it off inside to avoid overheating. For dogs, especially, take extra good care of their paws; try winter booties, wipe their paws after walks, and try to avoid stepping in salt or ice melt on walks. Be sure to rinse their paws as soon as possible to prevent harmful chemicals from being ingested or absorbed through the skin or paw pads. (FYI – sand is much more animal-friendly than chemical melts!) 
   
• If you live in an area prone to power outages during storms or freezing temperatures, keep medications, food, clean water, and toys handy in case you need to evacuate or bunker down.
   

DON’T

• Avoid holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias, which can cause gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular problems.
   
• Even small amounts of alcohol or other intoxicants are definite no-no’s so keep drinks and edibles out of reach. If ingested, your pet might get weak, ill, or go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure. 
   
• Keep human foods away from pets as well, especially chocolate or anything sweetened with xylitol. Also harmful: fatty or spicy food, garlic, onions, and bones are not to be given to animals. A Partridge in a Pear Tree sounds like a cute photo op for your fine-feathered friend, but birds may ingest small ornaments or other bits of harmful greenery. 
   
• Animals are very sensitive to strong fragrances, so avoid spraying fragrances or putting scented candles nearby.
   
• Speaking of candles, it’s probably best to keep them out of your holiday décor. Yes, they are beautiful and cast a lovely seasonal glow, but they can be easily knocked over – or light up a tail! – in the midst of holiday excitement. Stick with battery candles instead.
   
• And… speaking of fires, don’t let your pets get close to open heat sources, which can pose serious burn risks. Keep a firescreen up around any fireplaces (gas or woodburning), keep radiators covered, and keep kerosene or electric space heaters out of reach of curious paws and claws.
   
• Don’t forget Santa’s reindeer! While it might be tempting to leave these magical creatures holiday goodies like cookies and candy, it might hurt their tummies. Best to leave them a plate of what the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests: hay and reindeer feed, with the occasional graham cracker Christmas cookie as a treat. They also eat mosses, grass (when it’s not covered with snow), and lichens. 
   

The holidays are a special time to make memories both for yourself and your beloved pet. Following these simple tips will ensure your animals stay safe into the New Year and beyond!