Holiday Safety Tips: Protecting Your Pet During the Festive Season

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but they can also be stressful for many people. In addition to the pressure of hosting or attending multiple parties and gatherings, there is often concern over keeping pets safe during this busy season. Here are some tips to help keep your pets happy and safe during the holidays:

Pet Proof Your Christmas Decor

A Christmas tree is potentially hazardous to pets, so take these simple precautions:

• If you want your pets to stay away from the tree's sharp needles, keep it shaded and protected with a pet/baby gate or barricade it with other means.
• Cover your tree stand with aluminum foil to prevent pets from drinking the tree water. The combination of tree sap and water can be lethal.
• Fasten your tree securely to a wall or ceiling so that playful cats and dogs aren't able to knock it over.
• When selecting ornaments for your Christmas tree, choose ones that are made of non-breakable materials and avoid those with detachable parts. If you aren't sure whether an ornament is pet-safe, hang it out of reach.
• Avoid using tinsel for Christmas decor. You can end up with tinsel on the floor and lower branches even if you only decorate the upper branches. It is possible for your pet's intestines to become blocked if it swallows tinsel.

Keep Toxic Food and Drinks Away From Your Pet

During the holiday season, pet owners should be especially careful about what they feed their animals. Here are some toxic food items to keep away from our furry companions.

• Turkey: In case you decide to give your pet a bite of turkey, it should be boneless, well-cooked, and skinless. Offering your pets raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria, is not advisable. If you have a leftover carcass, do not give it to your pet. Turkey's bones can splinter easily and cause havoc to a pet's digestive system.

• Raw Batter and Dough: Pets should not be allowed to get into raw egg batter when you are baking desserts. The raw ingredients may contain Salmonella bacteria which can cause food poisoning in your pets.

Dogs and cats that consume raw bread dough continue to consume carbon dioxide gases and alcohol from the yeast. The result could be bloated, drunken pets that need to be hospitalized.

• Sweets and Treats: Sweets, treats and other foods that contain chocolate or xylitol are toxic to pets. Chocolate contains a chemical called Theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs and cats. Xylitol is a sweetener in many candies and baked goods that can cause severe liver problems in dogs.

It's easy to keep your pet happy during the holidays. Simply remember to think about what interests them when you're planning activities or preparing food. Healthy treats like apples, pumpkins and carrots can be a special holiday treat and help keep your pet healthy and whole. Remember to play with your pet during the festive season to make them feel like a part of the celebration.

Destination Pet Of Woodstock Welcomes Your Pet During This Holiday Season

At Destination Pet of Woodstock, we offer peace of mind and convenience through our warm, loving staff: we specialize in doggie daycare, luxury pet boarding, dog training and top-notch comprehensive veterinary services.

Whether your pup spends the day with us or enjoys a full summer of activities, we want to be sure that he has all the services necessary for an enjoyable experience.

Need a safe and fun place for your pet to stay during the holidays? Book your pet's boarding appointment now before we book up!