Tips for your pet The holiday season is upon us. For many, this is a time of peace, joy and the opportunity to spend time with others. For pets, it is a time of excitement, eating and new ‘toys’. With a little planning, the holidays can be fun for our furry family, too. There are 3 main hazard categories to watch out for: food, family and furbelows.
Human food should never be more than 10% of your pet’s diet, even at the holidays. Consider making some special treats for your pet for the holidays and let your guests know where those are available to avoid a plethora of other things. The ASPCA has a list of human foods to avoid on their website.
Be sure that your pets have a hiding place in case visitors become overwhelming. Socialization in small quantities may be more appropriate for our shy pets. Check that collars and identification is securely on just in case a door is open for longer than usual.
Holiday decorations brighten our homes. Planning for out of reach places will help keep both decorations and pets safe. The AVMA has a list of potential problems with some holiday decorations you might not think about.
~ Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, DVM, MS, is the Service Chief at Colorado State University’s Community Practice & Shelter Medicine Clinic. For pet care information, please visit their website at http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/small-animal/community-practice or call (970) 297-5000.