Oh, the holidays. A time filled with parties, presents, decorations and quality time with those you love, including your pets. Pets are an important part of our families and it’s natural to want to include them in holiday festivities. There’s a few things you should keep in mind to keep them safe this holiday season.
Decorations
Don’t worry you can still deck the halls, just make sure that if you’re getting a tree this year that you choose an area in your home this is the most difficult for your pet to reach. A corner can work nicely. To encourage pets from climbing the tree, place noisy bottles or foil at the bottom of the tree to try and steer them away. Be aware of the ornaments you hang on the tree as well. Although pretty, tinsel can be extremely dangerous if ingested by an animal, so be sure to keep a close eye on your pets, or just opt for a different garland this year. Wires that connect lights to the tree can become easy chew toys for pets. Make sure to lift any extra wires off the floor to avoid this. Candles are another decoration that can quickly become dangerous to your pet. Keep candles at an elevated level where your animal can’t reach them. If within reach, your animal can hurt themselves or cause a fire to start knocking them over.
Presents under the tree
It’s tempting to set out your beautifully wrapped Christmas presents underneath the tree. It’s not to say you can’t set out gifts, though. As a rule of thumb, don’t leave anything wrapped under the tree that you wouldn’t leave unwrapped. Like food or any scented soaps, perfumes etc. Any smells that can entice your animal. It’s also a good idea to leave electronic devices or expensive items away. In case anything were to happen, your animal won’t be destroying their stomach eating your presents, and you’ll save money on replacing any items.
Holiday parties
If you're entertaining guests during the holidays make sure to keep any human food or beverages away from your animals reach. Food items like chocolate or alcoholic beverages can be very harmful to their digestive system. If they don’t do well with large groups of people, be sure to set out a quiet safe area for them to spend time. A spare room with a kennel and fresh water would be ideal. It’s important they feel safe in their own home.
We hope these few tips will help keep your whole family safe this holiday season (furry members, too). If you do have an emergency with your pet this holiday season, call the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or your veterinarian. If you have questions about your homeowners insurance policy, or are looking for an insurance agent in Central Florida, feel free to reach out to us, here!
