Christmas has arrived again, a time for jollity , however it is also a hazardous period for both us and our beloved pets. London Pet Sitters have attempted to list their top tips to reduce the dangers to our pets over Xmas. Dog walkers are often asked for help or notice possible dangers to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Christmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is strongly fixed. This pleasurable activity of putting it up with your children, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, if it jumps up onto it, will not crash it down on to everyone. Pets can be put out of joint at Xmas and can become frightened and liable to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new sounds and smells. If you can avoid placing the tree close to furniture that will help the dog jump onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. Use a hook in the wall might help. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve steadiness is another way of avoiding risks.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, make sure your dog cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
Glass Christmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Eating these can be very dangerous. Some of the bright streamers can also be attractive to dogs, and can block the intestines.
Avoid using hooks on fixing the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.
3. Electrical Dangers.
Care with the electrical leads, man and beast can trip over them, bringing down what ever is attached. So use cable tidies, to put them out of harms way. Be extra wary if you have a cat or dog that chews and is curious. Keep the electric turned off if no one is present, or close the door.
4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your animal.
So watch your pet.
Animal behaviour can become eccentric at Xmas with the new surroundings and people. Animals are protective and can see a lack of attention, their favourite spot taken by the tree and presents as a threat to their home. They are much more likely to change behaviour, cats become scatty and scared, they can even go off their food – even if you are giving them some special Beef or Liver. Dogs risk being destructive, if they do not have enough exercise or enough attention and love. A particular danger even with very well behaved and trained dogs is the “strange” attacks on kids and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as London Dog Walking. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few sessions over the period, though you may need to do this early as they are often busy doing pet sitting at Christmas.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
dogs] especially with many people looking at them. Be extremely careful if you have moved their bed to put the tree up and the presents around it. It is not unknown for dogs to take it out on the presents. A great follow on risk is stomach blockages from the ribbons that they can eat, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Care with Christmas Food
It is always tempting to feed the pets some of the nice food that you have at Christmas. Do not give from the table, transfer to their normal food bowls at normal feeding times. It can take you the rest of the year to stop begging at the table, if it worked well at Christmas
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Some food such as onions, which could be in the nice stew or some of the chocolate being handed around. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with thirty – fifty % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, perhaps go for a dog walk, he would most likely prefer it.
7. Home Safety
A good check of the house is worthwhile, our dog walker, often identify dangers and point them out to owners, common ones include live candles that might be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Xmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.
Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your pets.