Holiday Pet Safety

Holiday Pet Safety - The holidays may be all fun & games for us, but it's the complete opposite for our pets. As much as we love and look forward to the long holidays ahead, our pets are scared and anxious. 

The holidays' hustle and bustle, loud noises, and changes in their daily routine stress out our fur-babies and make them all anxious. And because of all the changes the holidays can bring, our pets' safety is at risk. 

We've come up with tips for holiday pet safety in different situations so that the holidays are stress-free and fun-filled, not only for you but for your pets as well. We'll discuss dangerous holiday items for pets and pet safety tips for you and your family.

Must-haves for holiday pet safety

If there's an ultimate must-have considering holiday pet safety, the first thing you need to equip yourself with for your holiday pet safety is the contact number of your veterinarian or of the 24/7 emergency vet clinic near you (in case you're traveling). 

Keep these numbers in easy-to-find areas, in case any emergencies or causes of concern take place or happen to your fur-baby (we hope not!). 

Food items

Make sure your serving area is out of reach of your pets, as many holiday food items are harmful to pets like baked sweets and chocolates. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that your pet should not have any access to treats, especially those containing xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions, and other toxic human foods for animals. Also, see to it to keep the lid on your garbage can closed to avoid your fur-baby from reaching it and eating scraps as these can cause choking hazards and a dangerous cause for gastritis. 

Parties and visitors

Holidays mean parties and visitors! If ever you're hosting the holiday party at your house, keep in consideration that these can upset and make your pet anxious. It may be true that your pet is well-socialized but they can become nervous and shy during a holiday gathering. 

To help reduce your fur baby's stress and protect both your pet and your visitors, here are some helpful tips: 

• All pets (yours and your guests) MUST HAVE easy access to a place that's comfy, quiet, and away from all the hubbub of your celebration. The place should be somewhere your guests are off-limits, too, and a place where all pets can freely go in and out whenever they want to. 
• To avoid messy clean-ups in the pets' hideout place, make sure they are all wearing Pet Parents® Washable Dog Diapers; all crates, carriers, or beds must also have Pawtect® Pads as linings or beddings for added leakage protection. These dog diapers and pee pads will ensure that all pets are clean, safe from their pee & poop, and not bathing or lying on their own mess. (Major ew!) 
• Inform your visitors in advance that you have pets at home or if other people you've invited over are bringing their pets along with them, too. Some of your guests might have allergies or imperiled immune systems because of pregnancy, treatments, etc. Informing them about the pets at home will prepare them to bring with them medicines and take other precautions necessary. 
• If your visitors are bringing along their pets, you should make sure that their fur-babies' vaccines are updated, as you don't want diseases to be passed on to your pets at home. Also, you should plan to acquaint your pets and theirs in advance and observe how they interact together. If there are problems, you can politely decline their request in bringing their pets along. We just can't risk putting anyone in danger, especially during the holidays. 
• Guard the exits even if your fur-baby seems to have no problem with welcoming guests. The in and out of guests is a great opportunity for your fur-baby to go for the door and get lost. 
• Make sure your pets ID tags and microchips are updated. So, in case they sneak out of your house, they'll be a greater chance of reuniting and finding them again. 

The cold weather

The holidays bring us cold-weather season and this is enough reason to always keep our pets warm, dry, and properly sheltered. Most of our pets have been accustomed to warm indoor temperatures and they may not take cold temperatures very well. 

Always clean your fur-baby's paws thoroughly right before you go inside your home, as the streets may contain: 

• Antifreeze: Keep this out of reach of your pets. According to Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, antifreeze is a sweet liquid that is considered very deadly to animals if they got the chance to ingest it. 
• Rock salt: Rock salt can be irritating to paws, mouths, and stomachs so better keep them away for safety. 

Dangerous holiday items for pets

Dangerous holiday items are a thing. The holiday season brings us so much joy and a gazillion reasons to celebrate and decorate our house to suit the events. But do you know that some of your decors can put your fur-babies in danger? Here, we've come up with a list of dangerous holiday items this holiday season and tips on how you can keep your pets safe.

Leftover bones

Your furbaby's puppy eyes are pretty hard to resist, but no matter how pleading those eyes are, never give in to the urge to give them leftover scraps, especially when there are bones. Leftover scraps from your holiday table are fatty foods and this can cause diarrhea, vomiting and can promote pancreatitis, a threatening inflammation of the pancreas that generates dangerous enzymes and causes dehydration. Additionally, leftover bones can splinter and pierce your fur-baby's internal organs or cause painful constipation.

Sugar-free baked goodies

Holiday goodies may appear like a very mouth-watering treat for your fur-baby, but these goodies are made with xylitol, an artificial sweetener. This can cause your fur-baby's blood pressure to decrease to seriously low levels.

Christmas trees

It is sad to hear but, yep, our very own Christmas tree is one of the dangerous holiday items for our pets. Christmas trees have pine needles that may pierce through your fur-baby's paws (if he attempts to climb it) or may be ingested and may injure your dog's gastrointestinal tract. Instead, you can consider using paper or plastic Christmas trees.

Chocolates

Chocolates might be good for us, but it isn't good for our pets. Chocolates, when ingested by your fur-baby, can cause seizures, diarrhea, tremors, and if not given medical attention immediately, can even be life-threatening. This is why chocolates should be kept away from your fur-babies at all times.

Electrical cords

Keep those electrical cords out of your fur-baby's reach. This is one of the dangerous holiday items that does not only harm your pet but your household, too! Your fur-baby might get tangled on those cords and worse, might even chew on them! This presents a new hazard of getting electrocuted or of starting a fire. Instead, provide your fur-baby with Gnawtlers® for him to chew on. Gnawtlers® are specially selected chews from Grade A premium raw elk antlers and deer antlers that make a perfect gift for your gnawing dog.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a big no-no for your pet (even if he seems thirsty). You should never give your pet any alcoholic beverages as this depresses his nervous system. Also, keep him away from eggnog, coffee, tea, soda, and sports drinks as these may cause diarrhea and loose stools.

Plan a pet-safe holiday gathering

Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water, a small amount of dog food (in case he gets hungry), a place to snuggle, and dog diapers to give him the freedom to pee or poop anytime he wants, saving him from the stress and inconvenience of doing business outside. Dog diapers can also save you from the hassle of crazy clean-ups! To add more leakage protection, consider placing pee pads under your fur-baby's crate or bed.Make sure all the dangerous items and substances that your pet might ingest are out of their reach or locked away.

Happy holidays from all of us at Pet Parents®. We hope these holiday pet safety tips will help you during this holiday season.