Image: Parkway Veterinary

Pets And The Holidays

The delicious smells that go along with the holidays have our mouths watering and so do our pets. Food aside, there are a host of situations your pet can get into during the holidays so to keep your pet safe and still embrace the holidays with zest and gusto, take a few simple precautions.

Homes become highways at this time of year with guests coming and going, college students home on semester break, decorations being hung and candles lit. If you have a skittish animal that becomes uneasy during times of excitement and activity, find a safe, out of the way place for your animal to spend time.

Make sure to pay attention to your pet’s normal routine even if you are hosting a huge holiday event. Assign pet care to someone in the household making sure the pet is exercised, fed and watered to avoid any mishaps.

If guests are expected at your home, keep an eye on the door with arrivals and departures. Best to prevent your pet from taking themselves for a walk or curious peek outside.

Here are a few additional tips that may be helpful:

• Foods that may have a toxic effect are onions or it’s spice derivative like onion powder and onion salt.
• High fat foods such as butter and oils found in gravy, desserts and meats like ham can cause pancreatitis in dogs, causing abdominal pain and vomiting. Best to avoid giving this to your dog.
• Please don’t give your dog bits of this and that because it is not healthy for them even though they are begging and it makes you feel generous.
• Don’t leave food out and about for pets to help themselves. Secure food in containers and elevate a platter if necessary until ready to serve.
• Mistletoe and holly are toxic plants so please keep away from animals.
• Dangerous objects can be items such as the delicious string that was used to tie up the turkey legs that are now laden with drippings and wreak havoc with an animals gut if swallowed or the plastic turkey popper that let’s us know when the turkey is done. Dispose of appropriately before your animal’s scavenger instinct kicks in!
• Live evergreen trees are beautiful and need care to be safe in the home. Secure the tree properly to avoid falling on a pet or child should they decide to become adventurous. Tinsel is fun to play with but if ingested, can become entangled in the intestines so better not to use it. Cover the tree’s water container to prevent your animal from drinking from it particularly if chemicals are added. Keep the needles under control by cleaning daily so not ingested which can be harmful.

To make your pet feel like they are a part of the party, you can certainly give them an appropriate for pets treat. Get them a new chew toy to keep them engaged and deter them from begging. This is an irresistibly delicious time of year for us and for our pets. Let’s keep them safe and Happy Holidays!

Written by: Laura S. Rossinow, Broker/Agent, Keller Williams Realty, Newton, MA