While we’re all having fun at Christmastime, eating all sorts of tasty foods, opening presents, and chatting with family, some pets may be at risk. We all want to have fun at Christmas, but we want our pets to be happy and healthy, too. So, here are some things to bear in mind, to make sure your pet stays safe over the Christmas period.
Watch The Treats
Christmas food is the most potentially dangerous part of the holiday season. Ensure that children are watched carefully, because one little piece of food they give your dog or hamster in goodwill, can be fatal. Of course, the most obvious danger is chocolate. Giving chocolate to a pet is a big no-no. Grapes, raisins, nuts, peaches, and plums are also dangerous to dogs, which are the most common animal at risk at Christmas. Alcohol can be fatal to any animal, as is too much of any human food. Feeding potato or meat in excess can be dangerous, too. Vegetables are the safest, when not prepared in any sauce or spices, but check what is safe for your pet before feeding them any human food.
Clean Up
Many pets love playing with gift wrap after presents have been opened, but make sure you keep your friends safe. Always keep an eye on your animals while they play with paper because it is a choking risk. If your pet is likely to ingest any, make sure you clean up the paper as you go before your pet has a chance to eat anything they shouldn’t. We’re also all aware of the infuriating packaging many toys and gifts come in, with twist cables fixing Barbie to her box or thick vacuum-packed plastic that takes forever to cut through. Twist cables are a serious choking hazard for pets - and children - along with cutting plastic being incredibly sharp and potentially very dangerous, so always make sure packaging is disposed of quickly, to keep everyone safe.
Lights And Noises
Just because you love flashing lights and fireworks, doesn’t mean your pets do. From dogs to guinea pigs, and everything in between, certain Christmas traditions can be scary. If you like flashing Christmas lights strung up around your house, but your cat doesn’t, then put them first, and skip this particular decoration. There are plenty of other ways to festively decorate your house that doesn’t involve causing undue stress to your furry friends. Fireworks and Christmas crackers can also worry your pets, because, generally speaking, loud noises are alarming to them. They don’t understand the cause or where it’s coming from, so make sure any new sounds aren’t going to scare your sensitive pets.
Whatever you do this Christmas, make sure you have your pet’s best interests at heart. Enjoy the holiday period, but always ensure your pet will, too. There’s no reason Christmas can’t be fun for pets as well as humans, but always be on the lookout for foods that can be toxic, and anything that might scare or hurt them.
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