PH
OT
OS
:^ (C
AT
)^ E
LE
NA
BU
TIN
OV
A/
SH
UT
TE
RS
TO
CK
,^ (D
OG
)^ C
YN
OC
LU
B/I
ST
OC
K^
BETTER PETS
138 | December 2019
[DID YOU KNOW]
CALMING STRATEGIES IF YOU HAVE
A PARTICULARLY NERVOUS PET, ASK YOUR
VET ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS OR TREATS
CONTAINING SOOTHING HERBS.
All the hubbub around the
holidays can be stressful for pets.
Taking a few precautions
can help make the season jolly
and safe for them.
1
LOTS OF
GUESTS
A crowd of people
coming and going and
all their noise can be a
stressor for pets. Set up
a safe, quiet place
where she can retreat;
include a bed, food,
water, and toys, says
Jessa Paschke, behavior
and training specialist
with Mars Petcare North
America in Franklin, TN.
You can also muffle the
noise of a holiday party
with calming music.
Does your dog get
excited when the door
opens? Place her in
another room as guests
arrive, then bring her in
to mingle later.
2
HOLIDAY
FOOD GALORE
No matter how much
begging happens, don’t
share holiday eats with
pets. “The fat content in
most holiday foods
(gravy, fatty meat,
mashed potatoes) can
be too rich for cats and
dogs and cause stomach,
pancreas, and intestine
issues,” says Sharon
L. Campbell, D.V.M. at
Zoetis Petcare. All bones
are off-limits; they can
splinter and cause
internal damage.
Also know that foods
toxic to pets tend to be
ubiquitous around the
holidays: chocolate,
raisins, nuts, and alcohol.
3
SCHEDULE
CHANGES
“Pets are creatures of
habit and can become
anxious when their
routine is interrupted,”
Campbell says.
Stick with their regular
eating and exercising
schedules as closely
as possible, even if you
have to make small
adjustments like cutting
short your dog’s
morning walk. (If you
use a pet sitter, have her
adhere to the schedule
too.) Carve out quality
play and cuddle time
with your pet; it’s
calming and reassuring
to them—and
de-stressing for you.
4
DECKED
HALLS
Your pet may want
to check out all the new
shiny baubles, which
might mean a nibble
here and there. Around
the holidays, vets see
an uptick in stomach
issues from tinsel and
ornaments, Campbell
says. Block access
to the tree by stacking
presents around it
(determined pets might
need a baby safety
fence put up) and
covering the opening
of the tree stand
with foil or plastic wrap
so your pet can’t
drink the water.
The extra electrical
cords out at this time
of year are an increased
temptation. Make sure
you have lots of chew
toys out as redirection
and thread cords
through covers pets can’t
chew through. ■
GUIDE
HOLIDAY
SURVIVAL
BY KAREN ASP
