SubscribeHoliday Pet Safety Tips: A Year-Round Guide
As pet parents, anytime we’re celebrating, holiday pet safety is likely not the first thing on our minds. We’re more likely to be thinking about sharing snuggle time with our pets, along with special treats, decorations, and gatherings.
As pet parents, anytime we’re celebrating, holiday pet safety tips are likely not the first thing on our minds. We’re more likely to be thinking about sharing snuggle time with our pets, along with special treats, decorations, and gatherings. Unfortunately all of these human goodies can be problematic for our dogs and cats.
Everything from dangerous human foods being left out, to anxiety around party guests can crop up for a pet. Let’s take a closer look at some major holidays in the U.S. to understand how we can create a safe environment for our pets, and cash in on those snuggles, worry-free.
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Halloween Holiday Pet Safety Tips
According to pet microchip registry PetLink, Halloween is the second most common holiday for pets to go missing, after number one, the Fourth of July (1). It’s no wonder, when you think about it. The doorbell is ringing and the door opens and closes continually to reveal some very odd-looking characters. It’s no wonder our pets get spooked!
Skip Trick -or-Treat
For Trick-or-Treat time, as tempting as it is to show off your pet, let them relax instead. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recommends holiday pet safety tips including giving your dog or cat a special treat in a quiet room with a closed door instead. This could be something like a Kong for dogs, or an interactive toy for cats.
Update Their ID
This is a good time of year to make sure your pet’s ID tag and microchip registration information are up-to-date. You may even invest in an air tag with a collar holder, or a specialized pet GPS device.
Hide the Candy
No candy is good for your pet. Remember that chocolate and the sugar substitute, Xylitol are highly toxic
Watch Their Costume
Pets who aren’t used to wearing costumes can become distressed, and may even chew off small parts. If this is your pet, opt for a festive collar instead.
Thanksgiving Holiday Pet Safety Tips
Let’s be thankful for The Pet Poison Helpline, which receives more calls in November and December than any other time of year (2). There are a lot of tasty and dangerous foods around, plus well-meaning gifts like holiday bouquets containing flowers that are toxic to pets.
Keep Unfamiliar Plants and Flowers out
As beautiful as flower arrangements are, a lot of them are poisonous to dogs and cats. Cats, especially, have a way of getting to them even when they are placed “out of reach.”
Don’t Share Your Meal
Thanksgiving foods are great for humans, but common ingredients like onions and garlic are dangerous for pets. Even splintered turkey bones can be a choking hazard. Give your pet a dog or cat specific treat to munch on instead.
Secure Your Leftovers
Lock down those leftovers! Trash cans, “empty” plates, and even packaging that’s left laying around will be sniffed out by those curious noses.
Winter Holiday Safety Tips for Pets
Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s, the cozy season brings a lot to celebrate, including our beautiful pets. Let’s keep them safe by reviewing some common hazards.
Christmas Pet Safety
Ahh the Christmas tree. Our pets have to be wondering why we bring a bit of the outdoors in every season. And most of them can’t help but want a closer look.
Secure Your Christmas Tree
You can add a nice-looking mini fence around your tree to create a barrier, for starters. Even with that, it’s a good idea to secure your tree to the wall as well. Especially if you have a kitty climber in the home. You’ll want to want to protect the tree water, too. Covering it with tin foil can help. And lastly, keep the ornaments high and out of reach.
Winter Holiday Safety Reminders
There is a wide variety of delicious food dangers ready to tempt your pets during the winter holidays. Everything from chocolate to alcohol can cause a problem. Be sure to keep all of the food out of your pet’s reach, or even better, give your pet a nice quiet place to relax, away from the festivities.
Holiday Plants Can Be Toxic
Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly make gorgeous decor, but are a big no-no for dogs and cats.
Beware Beautiful Choking Hazards
Tinsel is very attractive to pets and both be a choking hazard and cause gastrointestinal blockage. Skip a visit to the emergency vet and keep tinsel out of the home. Use this same lens when looking at your other decor as well.
Watch Open Flames Closely
If it’s not possible to use flameless candles, be aware that pets can easily knock over candles.
Fireworks and Noise Are Not Always Fun
Pets can become easily scared by loud, unfamiliar sounds. They won’t miss the fun. On the contrary, they will be a lot happier in a room with a pet-appropriate treat and some calm music instead.
Retain Your Routines
Anxiety is sometimes at the root of dangerous pet behavior. So during the bustle of the season, be mindful of your pet’s regular routines and needs. Try to keep things as normal as you can. And if it gets to be too much, remember that you can always ask someone you trust to help you out by taking your pet for a walk, or giving them an extra special playtime while you’re busy.
Easter Pet Safety Tips
Have we mentioned lilies and chocolate? While Easter and other celebrations in spring are beautiful, our dogs and cats don’t appreciate the safety risks inherent in some of our traditions.
Keep the Sweets Secure
Chocolate and candies need to be kept away from cats and dogs, especially those containing xylitol. The biggest issue here is with Easter egg hunts; be sure your pets aren’t getting in on the fun. Don’t forget to clean the yard thoroughly after the hunt as well. An unfound, chocolate-filled egg could be lurking!
Spring Flowers
Lillies are toxic to pets, period. And sadly so are many other common spring flowers including tulips, daffodils, chrysanthemums, and even baby’s breath (3).If you think your pet may have ingested any part of a spring bouquet, you can call your vet’s emergency line or call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 for an $85 fee.
Avoid Intestinal Blockages
Be mindful of small decorations and embellishments that might look like a satisfying chew toy to your dog or cat; these could end up needing to be surgically removed from their stomachs. Repeat offenders include: Easter grass, plastic eggs, and small toys included in Easter baskets.
July 4th Pet Safety Tips
Fireworks are a big problem for pets. As we mentioned earlier, the Fourth of July is the most common holiday for pets to go missing (4). What we know as a celebration, can be a cause of absolute panic for a pet. Let them in on the festivities by giving them a safe, secure and cozy place to relax. You can even get them a special seasonal treat to enjoy like a pupsicle for dogs or a yummy treat paste for cats.
Keep Them Home from Cookouts
Bones, skewers, fixin’s like onions: Backyard barbecues provide a ton of tempting hazards for pets. It can also be hard to tell well-meaning guests that human food can be hazardous, when your dog is secretly wearing them down with puppy eyes. Better to leave your pet inside. If your dog or cat does end up outdoors with your family, try to secure trash and food and provide plenty of shade and water to prevent dehydration.
Our Take on Pet Safety Tips and the Holidays
Having a pet is the best gift anyone could ask for. It only makes sense to start each celebration with a simple safety check that keeps them comfortable and secure. The peace of mind that comes with this little bit of precaution will only make our celebrations better.
Feature Image via Amin Alizadeh on Unsplash
Holiday Dogs image via Laura Beth Snipes on Unsplash
July 4th Image via James Barker on Unsplash
