Happy Holidays: Keep Your Pet Safe and Sound During the Holidays

Deceased Pet Care has always focused on your pets as members of your family—That’s why we work to ensure that they have the same grace and dignity given to them in passing that we give to our other family members. It only seems natural to want to include them in holiday festivities throughout the fall and winter with the rest of the family as well. During the holidays, however, you need to take a few extra precautions with your pet to ensure that as they enjoy the merriment and cheer they’re not put at risk. Here are a few tips to keep your pet safe and happy during the “howlidays”:

1. Holiday travel is a given for the season. As you travel, consider your pet in the arrangements. Our blog on Pet Sitters goes into detail on how to protect your pet during holiday travel.
2. That Thanksgiving spread is delicious for you and your family, but sneaking table scraps or tid bits to your pets during the festivities can be dangerous. There are plenty of ingredients, like onions, that can be harmful to your pet, and the high fat content of such a meal is not good for them. Be sure to caution your family and friends against feeding your pets as well.
3. Beware of holiday plants. Holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias are all poisonous to animals. Pine cones can also present a choking hazard. Consider going faux this year, or be sure that no matter what the circumstances, your pet will not be able to get to such plants.
4. Similar to your cautions for food, if you have adult beverages at your festivities, watch them closely. Curious pets, especially dogs, cats, and ferrets, are known to slip a nose into a glass to try what’s inside, and alcohol is not good for them.
5. Holiday décor is beautiful, but it may be dangerous for your pet as well. If you choose to have a live tree to decorate, be sure to protect your pets by keeping them away from it. The water in your tree stand can be hazardous if your dog drinks it, and cats and other small furry friends can have a bad habit of chewing light cords, climbing the tree, or breaking glass ornaments that could cut them.
6. Holiday parties are great fun for us, but they noise, hustle, and bustle may be overwhelming for an anxious or tired pet. Be sure that your pets have a quiet room to which they can retreat, complete with water, food, toys, and a soft, comforting place to lay down.
7. Give your pet gifts that they’ll enjoy in a safe way. When you give them treats, be sure to portion them out properly. Avoid toys with stuffing if your pet likes to rip their toys, as swallowing the stuffing is bad for their health as well. Try to give them toys that have a sense of durability, and that will intrigue your pet for a while.

By following these precautions, you can help ensure that your pet loves the holidays just as much as you do, and that they’ll get to share in all of the fun of the season. Do you have any great photos to share of your pet or your pet and your family for the holidays? Be sure to share them with us on Facebook.