The holidays are right around the corner!
While most of us anxiously await this time of the year, our furry friends may not be as excited. Many of the traditional decorations we enjoy are dangerous to our pets. Enjoy this holiday season with your favorite people and pets without an unexpected visit to the emergency veterinary clinic.
If this is the first Christmas you will spend with your cat, you need to know this! Cats love to climb Christmas trees—and can easily knock them over. This can put your cat at risk of becoming tangled in the tinsel or lights. Have a spray bottle with water ready to catch your cat before they try to climb it—or restrict your cat’s access to the tree, if possible. Many cats and dogs like to play with the ornaments on the bottom of the tree; we recommend replacing them with plastic or shatter proof tree ornaments to prevent potential injury from traditional glass ornaments.
Holiday food is irresistible. This is the time of year most people fail on their diets—but don’t let your pet do the same! That leftover piece of turkey, mashed potato, or apple sauce can be harmful for your pet. Any human food given to your pet has the risk of causing stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhea. For more information on what holiday food is harmful to pets visit: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips
We understand that it can get a bit crazy and stressful when having guests over and that can be very stressful for some pets too! When you are greeting your guests, remember to close doors or try to keep your pets in a comfortable room away from all the festivities. If your pets are comfortable around people, remind your guests to not share food with them.
With all the precautions and the good holiday spirit, this season promises to be a remarkable one with your favorite people and pets, but not all pets are this lucky. Learn more about how you can give the gift of a forever home to a homeless pet at www.HSSAZ.org/Donate