Season of Concern

If you’ve been to the shopping mall lately, you’re probably well aware that the most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us. But while you’re giving thanks, be sure you’re not also giving your pets any unnecessary stress or tummy aches. Instead, follow our tips for a safe and happy holiday season.

1. Don’t: Feed your pets table scraps.

Feeding table scraps encourages begging behaviors, and dogs and cats will learn quickly that there is tasty food on your table at every meal. Plus, cooked poultry (like that turkey leg) contains bones that easily splinter and can puncture intestines or cause choking.

Do: Feed them before dinner.

If Fido and Fluffy have a full stomach, they’ll be less likely to beg for the food in your bowl. Dogs who need to be constantly occupied can be distracted from the dinner table with a rawhide bone or a durable chew toy.

2. Don’t: Let them get overly excited.

The holidays are a time for friends and family to get together and celebrate, but if you’re the designated host, chances are your home will be a high-traffic area. Constant company can cause both fear and excitement that can lead to an anxious animal.

Do: Keep them in a safe place during festivities.

Try to keep your furry friends in an enclosed area and keep familiar items, such as their bed, blankets, or toys nearby. You may need to limit their run of the house while you have company to avoid the risk of them running outside every time front door opens. Try to warn allergy-prone guests ahead of time about the presence of pets, so they can take precautions.

3. Don’t: Let your pets get anywhere near your favorite holiday recipe.

Certain foods are highly toxic to pets. Chocolate, for example contains theobromine, which affects the central nervous system of dogs as well as the heart muscle. You might be tempted to give your dog a celebratory sip of wine or a nibble of some delicious stuffing with raisins, but grape products can cause kidney failure in canines. Though onions may make a human cry, they can be downright deadly for dogs and cats. They contain a toxicity that causes Heinz body anemia, which can be fatal.

Do: Give your dogs and cats a healthy treat.

With so much good food around, they’ll want to be included in the festivities. Before a big party, go ahead and feed them something extra special so they don’t beg for what could be a dangerous snack.

4. Don’t: Assume your holiday decor is safe.

Fertilizers in the water under a Christmas tree can be dangerous if ingested. Poinsettias and Lilys are poisonous to both dogs and cats. And make sure flammable items, like lit candles, are out of reach of playful pooches and kitties.

Do: Decorate with festive and safe items.

Tinsel and fragile glass ornaments are great, just be sure that you hang them high enough so that your furry friends can’t reach them, and choose plastic or non-edible decor to put on top of your holiday table.