Tangled in the Tinsel – Holiday Pet Safety – 12 Days/Day 8

In the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, it’s easy to overlook the safety of our 4 legged family members.

Pet run-aways are more common during the holiday season. With people visiting more often, and package deliveries that may lead to gates left open, this provides the perfect escape route for our fluffy buddies.   Be sure your pet is securely in the house or in an area they can’t get through an open gate during the holiday season.

With the parties, visitors, unfamiliar people, and hectic schedules, your pet may become more agitated, or show signs of separation anxiety.  This could lead to destructive behaviors, excessive barking, or even biting.  Keeping Fido out of the action and in a quiet room away from the noise, with plenty of food and water may help.  Turning on a TV for familiar sounds can also soothe the savage beast.

The holidays are also wrought with items that can be poisonous to your pet.

Holiday plants that are poisonous include:  Holly, Mistletoe and Poinsettia.  If your pet chews or eats any of these, seek immediate medical attention.

Food that is poisonous or dangerous to dogs include: chocolate, turkey skin, raw onion, grapes.

Dyes from wrapping paper or ribbon can also make your pet ill.   Tinsel, ribbon, wrapping paper, bows, or small ornaments and hooks can lead to obstruction or even puncture the digestive tract if eaten, keep these away from your pets at all times.

Glass ornaments on the tree in reach of your cat or dog can also pose a hazard if they get broken.  My cats will actually steal and hoard the ornaments that are down low, so I make sure everything on the bottom 2 feet of the tree is plastic, and I don’t use any of the metal wire hooks.   Thankfully my cats are not climbers; however do what ever you can to discourage cats from climbing the Christmas tree, just so you won’t have to deal with broken ornaments, water shorting out the light strands, or just the plain ol’ headache of having to upright the tree when it gets knocked over.

Wishing everyone a PURRRRRRfectly safe and happy holiday!

Gina Stone – Founding Contributor 2BeeReady.org