**GroovyTakeOn podcast is part of #HiMomProject. Helping Older Adults to get ready-stay safe-online and offline.**
Last time we were talking about how to get ready for the holiday season. This time it’s all about pets during that time. You get ready, you make sure your house looks great, food is delicious, all the entertainment and gifts ready. How about your pets? Are they ready?
We (Renee and Klaudia) are going share some tips how to keep your pets safe and happy (or at least less stressed) during the holiday season.
This episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and other podcasting platforms (click here or just search for GroovyTakeOn).
Get Ready:
- Plan, plan, plan – holiday season may bring a lot of changes to the “regular” lifestyle of your pet. Guests, food, location. Everything might be new/unusual for your pet. Make sure you have a good plan
- Travel arrangements – in case you travel with your pet it’s important to get those travel arrangements as soon as possible. Do you have everything that’s necessary to keep your pet safe and happy during travels
- Safe space – make sure that your pet has a safe space around the house while all the guests and visiting and holiday cheer is in a full swing. Your pet might feel overwhelmed with everything that is happening. Safe space (with favorite toys,
fresh water , bed) might help to calm your pet - Guests – let your guests (short visit or staying over) know that you have pets at home in case your guests might have allergies. Ask your guests not to feed your pets and keep those front door closed so your pets are safe at home
- Holiday decorations – so much fun but at the same time, your pet might consider all the decorations as new toys. Keep it out of your pet reach
- Holiday Food – you know THAT LOOK your pet is giving you every time there’s food near you. During the holiday season, it is going to be an even harder task to not feed your pert with “people foods”. Stay strong and make sure your pets are not getting access to that food nor your guests feed your pets
- Wrapping paper – as colorful that might be, wrapping paper can be a choking hazard. Just clean it as soon as possible
- No alcohol – it might be so obvious but still worth mentioning. Please make sure your pet has no access to any alcohol and food products containing alcohol
- No chocolate/coffee – contains methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and more. Not safe for your pets
- Wires everywhere – you really want that house to look great inside and outside. Connecting all the lights is a big task. Your pet might think it’s also a great time to chew on it as well
- Go for a walk – if possible (in case you own a dog) take your pet for a walk or play with it at home
- New Year’s fireworks – might be a very stressful time for your pet. Make sure to keep your pets safe in a quiet place where they have fresh water, treat, toys, bed, and it’s escape-free
Resources:
- Holiday Pet Dangers: How to Keep Your Pet Safe This Year (by Pet Health Network)
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (by ASPCA.org)
- Animal Poison Control (by ASPCA.org) and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Phone Number (888) 426-4435
- Ultimate List of Holiday Pet Safety Tips (by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance)
- 17 Holiday Pet Safety Tips (by Animal Kingdom AZ)
- How To Keep Your Pet Safe During The Holidays (by The Dodo)
- Holiday Safety Tips (by ASPCA.org)
- “Holiday Pet Safety” (by American Veterinary Medical Association avma.org) and “7 Ways to Make the Holidays Safer for Pets” (by American Veterinary Medical Association avma.org)
- 10 Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays (by PetMed.com)
- Holiday Pet Safety (by PetCo.com)
- How to Keep Pets Safe This Holiday Season (by Pet Poison Helpline)
- How to Keep Your Pets Safe During the Holidays (by The New York Times nytimes.com)
Question of the Day:
Do you have any funny holiday story that involves your pets? What pets did you have in your childhood?
