5 Things You Can Do to Help Ensure a Happy Holiday with Your Pet!
By Avery Carlson
1. Keep people food to a minimum
Pancreatitis, foreign bodies, and toxic ingestions—oh my! People food can be a fun occasional treat but can quickly spell disaster for your pet. This holiday season, stick to pet treats or healthy human snacks like green beans, carrots, or plain boiled chicken. Keep leftovers and garbage securely stored away from pets, and monitor them for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy.
2. Keep shiny decorations, wrapping paper, twinkling lights, and candles out of your pet’s reach
While they may be appealing to the eye, Christmas decorations can be dangerous if ingested. Glass ornaments can shatter if knocked over, and if your cat is anything like our cat Chucky, candles can quickly turn tails into torches. (And if your cat is really anything like Chucky, they may enjoy dipping their tail in wax warmers, too!) Keep decorations secure and out of your pet’s reach. Quickly pick up wrapping paper and gift wrap, and unplug any unattended lights. Consider using flameless candles to maintain the ambiance or plug-in wall fresheners to enjoy your favorite holiday scents.
3. Ensure your pet has a well-fitting collar with tags
The holidays are a time of gathering and joy, but guests can give your pet the opportunity to slip out the door. To minimize stress and heartache, make sure your pet wears a well-fitting collar and tags at all times. Consider keeping your pet in a separate room while guests are arriving and leaving. If your pet is not microchipped, consider having this done before your next get-together.
4. Know where your local pet ERs are and have a plan
The last thing any of us want is an emergency. It’s important to be proactive before disaster strikes. Make a list of emergency pet hospitals near you and pet poison control numbers. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your pet’s medical records on hand or, at the very least, a list of all current medications and supplements they take. If you need a list of ERs, feel free to reach out to our office!
5. Watch where your pet goes and who they come into contact with
This might sound overprotective, but we mean well! Your pet may get overwhelmed with new guests and/or their pets or misinterpret communication. To avoid bites or other injuries, consider keeping your pet isolated from strangers or asking your guests to leave their pets at home. Children should always be supervised with pets, even if they are familiar with them. Watch your pet for signs of discomfort and swiftly intervene if you notice a change in their behavior.
Happy holidays from the Riverside Team! We can’t wait to see you in 2025.