The holiday season is upon us, and this festive season will be less joyous if your favorite four-legged family member experiences a veterinary emergency. While your pet makes your holidays brighter, the foods and commotion can stress out your curious cat or dog. Follow our Oliver Animal Hospital team’s safety do’s and don’ts to help ensure your pet has a jolly, joyful, and accident-free holiday season.

DO ensure your pet is healthy for the holidays 

Before the holiday’s hustle and bustle begin, schedule your pet’s annual wellness exam to ensure they are healthy enough to enjoy the festive fun. Regular wellness exams are essential to your pet’s health because they provide preventive care and early illness detection. Knowing your pet is feeling their best gives you peace of mind, and a healthy pet can better cope with the holiday season’s stresses. 

DON’T share holiday food with your pet 

While you may be tempted to share your holiday feast with your pet, many traditional dishes are harmful or toxic to your furry pal. Your pet will be eager to gobble up every dropped crumb, so prevent them from gulping down any of these unhealthy, hazardous, or toxic holiday foods:

  • Raw or cooked meat bones
  • Turkey skin and trimmings
  • Gravy
  • Ham
  • Onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks
  • Grapes, raisins, and currants
  • Dairy products
  • Chocolate
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Alcohol  
  • Caffeine
  • Unbaked yeast dough
  • Sugar-free foods and candies containing xylitol

Rather than sharing your dinner with your pet, search online for healthy treat recipes. While you are enjoying your feast, give your pet a healthy treat such as yummy peanut butter pupcakes or carrot and catnip kitty treats.

DO help your pet look and feel their holiday best

We could all use some pampering during the holiday season, and your pet is no exception! A grooming session can help your pet feel and smell their festive best. Regular grooming is necessary to remove dirt and odor, reduce shedding, and maintain a healthy coat and skin. First, thoroughly brush your pet, to eliminate loose fur and dirt. Next, bathe them until they are squeaky clean. Use a pet-safe shampoo with natural ingredients to make your pet’s coat shine. Remember to rinse well. Once your pet is dry, continue the pampering with:

  • Nail clipping
  • Hair trimming
  • Toothbrushing
  • Ear cleaning

DON’T force your pet to join in holiday parties

While some pets are party animals, others may feel stressed during a gathering’s commotion, loud noises, and unfamiliar faces. In addition, a disrupted routine may overwhelm your cat or dog. To help your pet feel safe and secure during a holiday party, provide them with a dedicated area or room in which they can get away from the noise and excitement. Set up the space with your pet’s favorite belongings (e.g., bed, toys), include necessities (e.g., food and water bowls, litter box, pee pad), and turn on some quiet music or white noise to block scary sounds. Depending on your pet’s needs, ensure the space allows your four-legged friend to come and go as they please, or remain in solitude until the celebration is over.

DO give your pet a holiday gift

Presents are not just for people. Your pet, who provides unconditional love year-round, deserves a little something special too. This holiday season, take time to show your pet how much you care by giving them a heartfelt, pet-friendly gift they can unwrap themself. Wrap a bag of your pet’s favorite treats, put the gift under the tree, and let your pet go to town, sniffing out their present and unwrapping their surprise. Of course, only place their present under the tree when you want them to unwrap their gift, as your cat or dog will no doubt be unable to wait. Your pet should open their present while you can supervise them because they will likely devour an entire treat bag, and develop a gastrointestinal (GI) issue—a gift that is not on anyone’s list! 

DON’T let your pet slip out the door

With guests coming and going, doors might be left ajar, and an open door can be an invitation for a curious pet to slip out and possibly get lost. Ensure your pet wears a well-fitted collar and identification tags with your current contact information. If your pet is microchipped, ensure your contact information is updated in the microchip registry. If your pet is not microchipped, schedule this quick, pain-free procedure with the veterinarians in south Austin. 

By taking a few precautionary measures, you help prevent your pet from having a holiday veterinary emergency. Schedule your pet’s pre-holiday wellness appointment with our Oliver Animal Hospital team, and enjoy your holiday season.