Keeping Your Pets Safe this Christmas

In a recent survey it was revealed that an amazing 85% of us will be buying our pets a Christmas present this year, this is a clear indication that we see the festive period as the perfect time to treat our much loved animals.

Whilst giving our pets a treat can, of course be considered satisfying and beneficial for both of us as owners and for them as pets, there are a few important points to remember to help keep our cats, dogs and other animals from coming to any harm in the next few weeks.

Firstly there is the perennial problem of FOOD, and there is always plenty of that around in our homes at this time of the year!

One of these potential dangers is chocolate as it can be very toxic and lead to some pretty serious problems if animals manage to get their paws on it and eat too much.  It can be hanging off our trees, on our tables and in our kitchens so it is vitally important that, you do not voluntarily give your pets any chocolate as this will only encourage them.  It is also best that it is always kept out of reach and preferably out of sight.  There is a warning from the animal charity Blue Cross at the moment about this very issue as they had a dog rushed into their hospital last year after it ate a whole box of festive chocolates and very nearly died.

For us our Christmas dinner is the very best meal of the year and therefore it can be tempting to want to treat your pets to the leftovers, as you may think they will really enjoy, but do not do it!
Many human foods can cause all kinds of sicknesses and illnesses (which are not fun to clean up!!) as the food can be too rich for their stomachs to cope with.  Then there is the issue of tiny bones accidentally left on meat that they might swallow as this can cause blockages in the animals' bowels which may need vet treatment which can be both expensive and inconvenient.  So use this warning as a reason to have your Christmas dinner all to yourself this year!

The next potential danger this winter is the COLD WEATHER that comes with Christmas!

There are a few simple and effective ways of limiting how the weather can affect your pets during the coldest weeks of the year.  If the weather is very cold for both cats and dogs, who still need their time outside for exercise and toileting, try and limit the time that you allow them to spend outside.  Ensure they get some fresh air and a bit of exercise each day, however the chances are they will want to get back to the warmth of the house as quickly as you do.  Luckily dogs also have the added advantage these days of being able to wearing jackets, they can be a brilliant way of keeping the cold away and if you buy a reflective one they can also be seen at night.

Grit can also be a real problem for dogs on their walks as it can irritate the bottom of their paws to such an extent that they actually can split, so if at all possible it is best to avoid pavements that have been heavily gritted.

New toys can be a welcomeaddition when the cold months begin to keep us all more in doors. Even when they are safe inside, the cold can still be a factor so we need to help keep our pets as active and as entertained as possible and there is no better way to do that than with a few new exciting toys for them to play with.

The next and final problems are the Christmas decorations that are all around our homes at Christmas time.  Pets will inevitably be fascinated by the new bright colours and flashing lights around your home and it can often be hard to keep them away from your Christmas decorations. 
But you must be constantly aware that any tinsel, fairy lights or wrapping paper that your animals can get access to and start chewing on or eating can be very harmful to them.  If you see your animals whether it be a cot or dog or even an indoor rabbit trying to eat any of them then the very safest thing to do would be to take it remove but moving it or taking it down until another year.

So if you keep these points in mind as you and your pets enjoy Christmas time you will all be able to make the most of this special time of the year.