The holiday season is here with all its fame and the sweet sounds of Christmas carols have filled the air with joy and excitement. As you are finalizing the preparations for a perfect celebration, don’t forget your pet as they may be agitated by the hustle and bustle going on in the house. Your festive happiness can turn into worry if you don’t pay attention to protecting your furry buddy from probable accidents or stressful situations. This holiday season; make the celebration special and harmless for your furry family member too.
Here is a list of a few essential steps to take for having a pet-safe holiday celebration:-
Make the Christmas tree harmless
First and foremost, remove all the items from the Christmas tree and decorations that can be harmful to your pet. It is better to go with either an artificial tree, a pet-friendly Douglas fir, or a white pine live tree as their needles do not stick to your furball’s paws. Keep the tree on an elevated platform or inside a covered area, out of your pet’s reach. Tie the tree properly so that it does not topple over and injure your pet.
Pet-proof the decorations
Now, take a look at a few ways to make decorations safe for your pets.
- The baubles:
Your furry buddy may find the colorful baubles attractive and may jump to get it thinking it is a fetch. But if your pet breaks them while trying to play, the shards can inflict internal injuries when ingested or can cut their paws. It is better to keep baubles restricted to the upper half of the Christmas tree. Also, avoid decorating the tree with chocolate baubles. Your pet may consider them as a treat and end up grabbing and eating them and chocolate is toxic for your four-legged buddy.
- Candles:
Candles are equally alarming for your pet’s safety. They can set a fire by accidentally knocking down the candles. Make sure you put out the flames before leaving the room. You can also try to go with the candles that use batteries instead of the ones with flames.
- Plants:
Holiday plants like ivy, mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias are not good for pets. Their leaves can have a poisonous effect on your furry pal when ingested. Avoid bringing such plants to your home for decoration.
- Wiring:
Keep all the wires out of your pet’s reach. An uncovered strand can give them a fatal electric shock. Chewing on them can also be harmful to your companion.
Keep the gifts away
The colorful ribbons, bows, and unwrapping gifts are fun and can easily catch your pet’s attention. But they can be choking hazards; besides what is stuffed inside can also be harmful to them. To avoid such unwanted incidents, keep the presents in a secure place, away from your pet while you are not around.
Keep a check on food
Who would not like to have a satiating holiday meal? Well, your pet is not an exception. They also enjoy feasting on the high in salt and sugar tasty table scraps and Christmas candies. But, they are not good for their health. Keep your dog or cat away from candies, raw eggs, raw fish, raw meat, garlic, onions, grapes & raisins, and coffee as they can be toxic for them. Instead, prepare some pet-friendly healthy food at home to make your fur buddy happy.
Read More – List of Human Foods that We Can Feed Our Dogs
Cover the trash
Keep the trash cans covered all the time so that your pet cannot topple over them and spill the waste. The bones from leftover food can splinter and feasting on them can cause severe health problems for your furry friend. They can get caught in the gift ribbons, and the wastage from decorative pieces can inflict cuts on them.
Provide a quiet place
Surrounded by loud cheery noises and a lot of guests, your pet can feel stressed or anxious. To comfort them, provide your furry companion a separate room and let them rest in a quiet place, away from the party chaos. Avoiding forceful engagement with the guests will also help in keeping your pet calm.
Fit the collar ID
Though you try to keep the doors closed all the time, your pet can manage to run outside if any door stays even half open by mistake. And you may not realize about their mini adventure while you are busy attending to the guests. To help your furry buddy find their way back home, make sure they always wear a collar with an ID tag mentioning your up-to-date contact information.
Learn More About – Microchip Your Pet Month: Gift a Permanent Identification to Your Pet
Avoid fireworks
Loud noises and lights can frighten your pet and make them stressed. It is best to keep them home while you visit the fireworks displays. Inside the house, keep the curtains down, play soft music, and make the ambiance of the room where your pet is resting as calm and cozy as possible.
To conclude
Holiday celebrations can be disturbing and stressful for our furry companions. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the festivities to their fullest, taking care of your four-legged friend’s safety is equally important. This season pledge to keep your furry friend safe by making pet-friendly arrangements. Make this year’s holiday celebration enjoyable for your furball too.