Keep Your Pet Healthy This Season

The holidays can be a wonderful time of year filled with heartwarming get-togethers, festive activities, and lots of delicious food. Unfortunately for pets, though, some of those joys can be drawbacks or even serious hazards. Use this guide to help keep your dog, cat, bird, or other animal companion safe and happy all throughout the season.

Maintain a routine

Just as people can experience anxiety and loneliness during the holidays, so can your pet, especially if they are left alone more often than usual as you attend holiday parties and other gatherings. And also like us, they may express their negative emotions in a number of ways, such as by eating less, sleeping more, or acting out destructively or aggressively, whether that involves chewing your shoes or snapping at you.

To help keep your pet happy and secure, maintain as much of their daily routine—like their feeding times, walks, and playtimes—as possible. Many animals are creatures of habit, so keeping up with your pet’s usual activities can help them feel less anxious. But if you do find it hard to stick to their usual schedule, ask a friend or relative to look in on them on certain days or hire a sitter who can pick up some of the slack. Depending on your calendar, you may also want to consider boarding your pet. This can be an unpleasant experience for some animals, while others may benefit from the extra attention, care, and opportunities to play and socialize they may get.

If your pet still shows signs of anxiety or depression despite your best efforts, consult your vet, who could offer further advice or prescribe behavioral therapy or medication.

Keep them engaged

Another way to combat your pet’s negative feelings is to incorporate some active time for them, such as with a game of fetch or a pet puzzle they can work on. Besides keeping them physically healthy, giving them the chance to romp around and play will allow them to release pent up energy, staving off boredom and restlessness. You could also provide them with a comforting toy specifically designed to mitigate anxiety or depression: a snuffle mat for a dog or cat, a treat ball for a cat, dog, rabbit, or rodent, or a chew toy for a parrot or other bird. These items can help soothe your pet by offering a distraction for them, dispensing tasty tidbits, or encouraging a soothing behavior like licking or chewing.

Monitor their food

The holidays are an easy excuse to let loose and indulge your pet, but you should be careful about what you allow them to sample. Many holiday dishes, such as pot roast and stuffing, include garlic and onions, which are toxic to animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits. Currants, raisins, and chocolate, often found in festive baked goods, can also make your animal sick. To be safe, avoid feeding your pet from the table in general, and don’t leave holiday delicacies out where they can easily be snagged. Furthermore, never feed Fido bones from your meals or Fluffy cod or other fish containing large, sharp bones because they can crack their teeth or get lodged in their digestive system. If you’d like to treat your pet, there are healthier options to consider, such as small helpings of plain pumpkin, peas, and carrots for your dog, cat, or rabbit. (For extra peace of mind, check with your vet first about the best foods to offer.)

Decorate with care

You’ll want to choose your decorations prudently since some holiday decor can be dangerous for pets. For example, poinsettias, holly, and mistletoe contain substances that can be harmful or even toxic to your animal, so put them where your pet can’t reach them or avoid using them altogether. The same goes for lit candles and Christmas trees—a rambunctious dog or kitty can easily topple either of these, potentially damaging your property or starting a fire that can put everyone at risk. Additionally, the ornaments and tinsel on your tree and the wrapping paper, bows, and ribbon on your gifts can be choking hazards for your animal, so keep a watchful eye on them around these items.

Create a safe haven

At times, your pet might need a quiet space of their own, especially if you are entertaining frequently during the season—the associated noise and commotion can be confusing and threatening for them. During the gathering, consider putting them in a separate room or space where they can relax. This can also help prevent them from escaping outside as your guests come and go. Just be sure to leave them with some fresh water and food, comfortable bedding, a pee pad or litterbox, and toys, and check in on them regularly throughout the event.

Travel tips

If you and your pet will be traveling over the holidays, bring their identification (such as an ID tag), proof of vaccination, and plenty of kibble and water. Before flying with your pet, consult the airline’s pet policies, and when driving, keep them properly contained or restrained to better protect you both.

The holidays can quickly get busy, but with careful planning and a bit of extra attention, you can ensure that your pet has a safe and happy season.