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Christmas is only fun if the whole family is involved in the festive activities – and that includes your furry friends. But there can be many stressful changes for your pets during Christmas and, although it’s an exciting time, it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the potential dangers at this time of year.
Some Christmas foods can be toxic to pets as well as festive plants such as poinsettias. The cold weather and a change in routine can cause a lot of stress to your house pets.
RVN Korina Stephens at Nutravet comments: “Decorations, rich food, and fireworks can all have a negative impact on our four-legged friends. Anxious pets can really struggle with a higher number of visitors in the home or the unusual smells and sounds.”
To make sure Christmas goes without a hitch for you and your pet, Nutravet offer some top tips:
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Pet safety
Keep wires from Christmas tree lights tucked away to prevent them from being chewed. Consider using non-toxic and unbreakable decorations in case your pet does manage to get their paws on them. If broken, they could get stuck in their paws, or even be swallowed.
Chocolate
Although it may be tempting to treat pets at Christmas, chocolate can be toxic for dogs as it contains a stimulant called theobromine. If you have chocolate decorations hanging on the tree, be sure to keep them out of reach of your dog, to prevent them being sniffed out.
If you want your pet to join in the fun of opening a daily advent calendar, there are dog and cat friendly ones that you can buy.
Pine needles
Vacuum regularly to reduce the risk of your pet swallowing any pine needles from the Christmas tree and prevent them from getting stuck in your dog or cat’s paws.
Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are also poisonous to dogs and cats. Try to limit these around the house at Christmas.
Human food
Some festive foods that we enjoy at this time of year are poisonous to dogs, such as raisins, used for making Christmas cake and mince pies. Raw potatoes and onions are also a no no.
Be sure to store these foods out of reach from your pets to prevent any unwanted festive trips to the vets. Rich turkey dinners are high in fat and shouldn’t be given to pets as they can irritate their tummy.
Wrapping paper
Be sure to clear away left-over wrapping paper, ribbon and bows that can easily be chewed or swallowed by your pet.
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Reduce stress
Christmas can be a busy time for everyone – with more people in the home, especially during current times. This can cause stress for some pets. Create a safe zone or den for your pet to retreat to which has a comfy bed, plenty of fresh water and toys to keep them occupied.
Fireworks are a common occurrence during the New Year and can cause stress in pets. Prepare in advance if you know your cat or dog gets anxious from the loud noises. Ask your vet about Nutracalm, which can naturally reduce stress for pets fast.
To prevent any stress for your pet at this time of year, stick their usual walking and feeding times, Disturbed routines can cause anxiety in pets.
Cold weather
As the temperatures start to drop make sure your pet keeps warm, especially older pets. Use extra bedding in the house and coats for dogs can also be used during walks. Bring any outdoor pets inside in winter months, if it’s too cold for you it too cold for them.
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