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Keep the Holidays Safe and Happy for ALL! As the holidays approach, it becomes the busiest time of year for many of us! The hustle and bustle of November and December provides plenty of fun, but can also leave us rushed, tired and more than a little anxious! What about Fido and Muffy? Us human types are busy shopping, wrapping, visiting and baking (not to mention eating!), and it is easy during the holiday rush to push aside our beloved pets – which may leave them feeling anxious, bored and a bit neglected. Ever notice how your pets seem to get into more trouble when YOU are pressed for time? How little Rover always gets into the trash just as you are trying to rush out the door or Kitty is meowing about her food as you are trying to bake for the office holiday party? Here are a few thoughts to consider so the holidays will be a pleasant experience for you and your pets. Let us think about this. Fido and Rover have a nice, peaceful home with their families. It really begins with Halloween – all of a sudden their people don’t look like themselves anymore – and there are all these nummy smelling goodies around that they cannot touch (THEY don’t realize chocolate can make them very ill – they just know it smells good!). And that doorbell must have rung 40 times in ONE NIGHT! How strange is that? Ok, we made it through Halloween. Now it is November. Here’s your pet, thinking…mmmmm…. Something smells so so good again – is that turkey? Gee Mom, you shouldn’t have – wait, who are all these people in my house? Sleeping over? What do you mean I cannot go into the dining room and kitchen? I always have before! My CRATE? Are you kidding? By the way, I have to go outside real soon….well, I TOLD you I had to go out! What is going on in my nice quiet predictable house? I do not think I like this at all. What about my daily walk, and play time? Hey, there is a kid playing with MY toys – and in MY sleep area…who are all these folks anyway? Well, at least some of them keep dropping their food. I guess I can take this. Thank goodness they all are gone…WOW – Mom you brought me a TREE!?? Inside?! AWESOME! I am gonna smell it and climb it and pee on it…hey what do you mean NO? That IS a tree, right? Those things I see outside all the time, and sniff and pee on? What are you doing to it…sparkly stuff? On a tree? Man, this just keeps getting weirder. What’s that stuff under it? I can’t sniff that either? Some of it smells like it could be food…hey what are you doing to the rest of the house? It looks different. Oh no, MORE people? They are staying? I still have not had a nice walk, or played very much…here we go again! Ok, so you get the idea. The holidays are a happy busy time for most of us. Please remember that your pet may be confused and anxious about all the visitors, rearranging of the house, all the new things that are introduced. In addition, many of the items we bring out for the holidays, especially foods and live decorations, can be harmful to your pet. The beautiful poinsettias, holly and mistletoe can be deadly if ingested, and so can many of the holiday goodies (especially that old standby – chocolate!). Candles are often a lovely home accent, but a menorah is enticing and not safe for kitty to brush up against! Fires in fireplaces should be closely monitored and all your wonderful guests may be strangers to Fido, who only knows he is being invaded! |
