Let the holiday season commence!
Thanksgiving is over as the winter holidays begin! Shopping for the perfect gifts. Baking cookies, fudge, and family favorites…making gingerbread houses. Cleaning. Tree shopping. Maybe planning for holiday guests or planning on raveling to be a guest for Christmas! Excitement abounds with the hustle and bustle of the season. And a little time set aside to see how the family pets fit into the scheme of things can go a long way in making the holidays fun fore everyone!
Be sure the microchip and the ID on your pets are current with phone number, address and an emergency contact. An early gift of a new collar with a shiny new ID tag from the pet store may be a timely investment. Are your pets vaccinations current? If your rabies vaccination is out of date and an excitable nip or bite breaks skin, the holidays will be anything but merry and bright. Planning to board your dog? Better have your paperwork of vaccination for rabies, distemper and bordatella in hand and current. Check NOW! Speaking of boarding, have you confirmed your reservation? How about staying home but hosting guests? Much of the same applies, but start now providing a pet safe place for your pets…one where they can safely escape to when they need a break from over anxious toddlers or chocolate sharing relatives!
Just as parents need to keep young children in mind with every decision when it comes to safety, so it should be with pet owners. They are as curious and quick as any toddler, and able to find themselves in just as much trouble in the blink of an eye…especially this time of year! Here are some simple considerations to get you started for a pet friendly holiday season:
Extra Fixin’s: Fatty food and all the yummy stuff that makes festivities so special for us can result in anything from vomiting to pancreatitis for man’s best friend. If you simply HAVE to give him a treat, a tablespoon of turkey broth over his food or a little nibble of ham should be safe.
Chocolate: Yep, a no-brainer. Just say “NO!” and keep the temptation far out of the reach of your pets!
Wrappers: Please remember to properly dispose of and keep the trash out of your pets’ reach. Besides your pets working to clean every speck of greasy goodness off the wrappers, they may end up swallowing them and causing intestinal blockage.
Cooking: Keep pets out from underfoot in the kitchen and dining room. The last thing you need is to drop a hot dish on your pet, yourself or a guest! There’s also the risk of broken glass getting in someone’s paw or foot. Again, say NO to furry kitchen “helpers”!
Holiday Plants: It bears repeating for pet’s sake. Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are toxic to dogs.
Holiday Decorations: Glass ornaments and decorations within puppy’s reach? NO!
Well Intentioned Guests: Your pet’s well-being shouldn’t take second place to your being the host or hostess of the year! Let guests know the rules of your home when it comes to your furry kids, too, and insist they abide by them. If they can’t, remember to take your pets to the special pet safe area off limits to anyone but mom and dad!
Keep this link handy just in case your best efforts still can’t keep your pet out of harm’s way:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
