There is no doubt that the holidays are a great time. Spending time with friends and family, eating lots of super yummy food, and the giving and receiving of presents.

Everyday lives are changed for a month or more, because we bring out the decorations, some may bring in a live tree for the holiday season, and of course all the cooking and baking.

While this is especially joyous for us, it has the potential of bringing along with it some unexpected dangers that could be harmful to our pets. Along with celebrating the season, let’s make sure to keep our pets safe and sound this year.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind during this festive time:

If you are purchasing a live tree, please try and keep your pet from drinking the tree water. The trees may have been treated with fertilizers and pesticides that will leak out into the water. If ingested by your pet, it can has the potential to cause harmful side effects or to be toxic.

Keep the tinsel to a minimum or out all together. Cats, especially kittens, tend to be attracted to it and if ingested can cause havoc on the digestive tract causing lots of internal damage.

If your pet has ingested a glass ornament, feeding cotton balls soaked in half and half, will help the glass pass through and protect the intestines. The cotton fibers will wrap around the glass. Make sure to use 100% cotton fibers and not man-made synthetic fibers.
Dogs under 10 lbs should get 2 balls total. You should tear them into smaller pieces for feeding, you don’t want your dog to choke in the process of trying to save it. Dogs 10-50 lbs should eat 3-5 balls and larger dogs should eat 5-7. You can feed larger dogs the entire cotton ball at once.

Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly have the potential to be poisonous if ingested in large amounts. Either make sure your pet is unable to to get to them or forgo using them at all.

With winter, tends to come cold, snow, and ice for some of us. All of which we need to protect our pets from.

If you have a cat that you let outdoors, reconsider making it an indoor only cat. Just because it has fur doesn’t mean it will not get cold when outside.

If you have a pet with short or very fine hair, make sure they have a jacket for weather 30degrees and below. Only for a quick potty run can they be out without protection. Especially the little guys, they are very susceptible to cold temps.

When coming in from a walk, be sure to wipe your pets paws, legs, stomach, and chest area. People use chemicals, salt, and antifreeze in the winter, any of which your dog may come in contact with while outside. Wipe your pet down in order to remove any possible toxin.

You can protect your dog’s paws with booties. The salt used on streets and sidewalks can be an irritant to the pads on the feet. It might also be ingested if the dog licks his paws after a walk. When walking in snow or on ice, the paws can become cold and actually get frostbitten. Dogs need protected from the cold just like their humans, consider looking into winter weather gear for them.

Check the ASPCA for other helpful tips on how to protect your pet.

The cottonball trick is all over the internet, you can google it for reference.

Here is an article regarding Christmas plants.

The majority of my dog’s gear comes from Ruffwear. For example, his jacket is from there and he has booties that match. Also the leash I use is a Ruffwear product. Consider checking them out for all your outdoor doggie gear needs!

Everyone at OHC wishes you a safe and happy holiday season with your pets!