Avoiding a Christmas Disaster

Dec 9 • 2 minute read

To prevent happy tails and curious paws from tipping this year’s Christmas tree here are a few tips and tricks to remember for a Happy and peaceful Christmas.

  1. Cat’s aren’t very fond of citrus scents, so try spraying your tree skirt with an orange or lemon scent to deter that feline curiosity.
  2. Christmas decorations are shiny, dangly and irresistible. Make sure that any breakable baubles or ornaments are higher on the tree out of the reach of puppy paws.
  3. It doesn’t take much for pets to become overstimulated and overwhelmed around the holidays. Give your pets plenty of time to adjust to new guests as well as a safe and quiet place for them to retreat to when it gets to be too much.
  4. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Poinsettias, holly and of course the mistletoe. Most pets won’t bother them, but these plants will make the sick, especially the berries. Keep the plants high, out of the reach of pets. If you do see a pet munching on one of your holiday flowers call a vet immediately.
  5. Wrapping paper, ribbon and tinsel… oh my. Pets, especially cats, love to play with paper balls and shiny ribbon or tinsel. If swallowed however, they can get tangles in their stomachs and it will be a trip to the emergency room. So, make sure to have a trash bag ready and pick up the leftover gift wrapping before your pets do.
  6. The Christmas turkey or ham may look delicious, but they are not for pets. Many foods, safe for humans can actually be dangerous for our pets like chocolate, yeast dough, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins and currents, avocados, coffee, onions and garlic (among others). Not feeding your pets from your meal doesn’t mean that they can’t be spoiled. To make the holidays special for your pet crack open a can of your pet’s favorite food, and serve in warmed on their own special holiday plate.
  7. Pets may mistake cinnamon sticks and other dry potpourri for treats. These can cause an upset tummy or worse. Liquid potpourri can be extremely toxic as well as cause chemical burns if licked and ingested. Try a pet safe air freshener instead as a safe alternative.
  8. Make sure you have your pets identification tags, and microchip information up to date. It can be easy for a pet to slip past an unsuspecting holiday guest and get lost or injured out of doors.
  9. Don’t place presents under the Christmas tree that contain food or candy. Pets have a much stronger sense of smell that we do and it may just be too much to resist.

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