It’s that time of year again! While we’re busy celebrating this holiday season, it’s important to remember the things that might not be so cheery for our pets.
Food
Your delicious Christmas spread could prove irresistible to your pet, and who can blame them? Just like us, pets can over-indulge over the holidays, and it can be tricky to keep track of what they’re eating when the festivities are in full swing.
Fatty foods like ham and pork can cause an upset stomach, or even more serious conditions like pancreatitis. Some foods, though, can cause more than an upset stomach. Chocolate, onions, sultanas and raisins are all toxic and you should call us if you think your pet has eaten them.
Stranger Danger
While we often love a get together with family and friends, it can be a stressful time for your pet. If you find your cat hiding away for days on end or your dog barking endlessly when the family comes to visit, they might be struggling with the sudden change to their environment.
Make sure your pets have somewhere quiet and safe that they can retreat to if they need. If that’s not possible or they still aren’t happy, it might be worth considering medication over the holiday period. There are lots of over-the-counter anxiety relief products available, as well as stronger prescription medication from your vet.
Noise
Like having visitors around, loud noises like fireworks can be extremely stressful for your pet and it’s important that they have somewhere quiet, safe and secure to hide. Short-term anti-anxiety medication can also be very useful.
Heat
We all know not to leave dogs in hot cars, but hot backyards can be just as dangerous. Heatstroke is life-threatening, especially for our flat-faced friends like Pugs and Frenchies. If you can’t have your pet inside on a hot day, make sure that they have access to shade and plenty of fresh water.
With all that out of the way, we’d like to wish all of our clients a happy and safe holiday season!