The holiday season is no longer around the corner: it’s right here, looking us in the face in full swing. Many people celebrate with festive cheer, decorations and fun parties, which makes it extremely easy for us to forget the regular routine.
But gearing up for the holidays doesn’t have to be a bad thing for your pet. According to Elisabeth Giedt, chief at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University, pet owners must be careful and keep their pet’s “eating and exercise schedules as close to normal as possible.”
Giedt added that more than keeping your pet’s schedule relatively close to normal, it’s also important to keep them away from dangerous decorations, unhealthy treats, and toxic plants – all of which abound during this season. Here are a few tips on how to do that.
Christmas trees and pets don’t mix well
Be sure to keep the Christmas tree – usually the centerpiece of holiday decorations – securely anchored, so it doesn’t tip over. Also, make sure the tree water isn’t spilling, as it could upset your pet’s stomach due to the fertilizers it may contain.
At the same time, our feline friends are naturally attracted to shiny or sparkly things, so you might want to rethink using tinsel on your Christmas tree. Ingested tinsel can lead to dehydration and even severe vomiting.
Don’t give your pet access to electrical cords
Christmas decorations often include strings of lights, which pets find extremely enticing. However, their cords are also a source of attraction, which means you might want to keep them behind furniture where pets don’t have access.
Other solutions may include taping the cords to the floor or using spiral cable wrap or cord protectors for the safety of your pets.
Candles should be a no-no
Admittedly, candles do ad an air of festiveness to your home’s decorations, but they can become a danger for people and pets alike. Besides causing burns, candle wax could also cause harm, should the decoration be knocked over.
Let’s not forget how easy a candle can set something on fire. If you simply must create the ambiance of candles, you could check out the variety of flameless candles – a much safer alternative.
There are many more things to be taken into consideration, such as keeping the alcoholic beverages away, and making sure there are no unattended plates of food that could cause indigestion. Keeping pets safe this holiday season should be any pet owner’s top priority.
Image Source: Christmas Wallpapers
