Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year and for many people it is. However for your pets, sometimes it’s not so great and even if you have bought them a tonne of lovely presents, they have no idea what’s going on and it can be a stressful and even dangerous time for them. So how can you make sure that your pet has a great Christmas?
Keep an eye on the food
While you should always be careful with your food around your pets, over Christmas it’s even more important as food is such a big deal and it’s everywhere. There’s edible Christmas decorations, edible gifts, tins of chocolates and biscuits being passed around not to mention the actual Christmas dinner. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is either, food is everywhere. It’s important to make sure that your dog or cat isn’t helping themselves to it because while it’s perfectly fine to give them some food such as a bit of turkey meat and some vegetables, there are other things that can cause them real problems such as onions and even onion powder, which is used in gravy or stuffing mixes as it can cause liver damage.
Then there are the bones which if cooked are too soft. If they chew them can splinter and cause internal damage to your furry friend. Then there are the Mince Pies and Christmas Puddings which include grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas – all toxic to dogs. And of course, there is Chocolate which are poisonous for pets.
Decorations and wrapping paper can be dangerous to your pet
It’s always good to know what are poisonous substances for pets. Many people don’t realise the things that could cause their beloved animals pain and discomfort. Wrapping paper, for example, can be the most fun thing to play with on Christmas morning for your dog or cat. But some of it contains harmful chemicals such as bleach and chlorine, which can be very dangerous when ingested. Similarly, while decorations look beautiful, they can be very attractive to your furry friends who just want to play with them. But if your pet chews on your fairy lights, they could burn or electrocute themselves. Tinsel is another sparkly, shimmery and very exciting thing that pets will want to play with. However if they eat tinsel it can cause dangerous blockages in their stomachs.
Stick to your routine
Over the Christmas period, it’s easy to fall out of your normal routine. You forget what day it is, the kids go to bed later (although not on Christmas eve) and in different rooms and it’s perfectly fine to eat chocolate for breakfast. However, as mentioned before, your pet doesn’t know what’s going on. If you miss their morning walk or feed them an hour later than usual they will notice. It could cause them stress. Try to keep things as normal as possible for them. Stick to their routine so that they feel safe and comfortable among all the hustle and bustle.
