Holiday Pet Tips

by Mandy Evans

If you include your dog in the Holiday fun, they Love it…the new smells, the excitement in the air, possibly a new tree to pee on, conveniently placed in your living room. But the Holidays can be stressful as well.

Dogs are creatures of habit; anything we do to disturb this habit is going to be stressful on the average dog. Whether you are boarding them, taking a trip, or having company, dogs don't understand what this change is all about.

Here are some suggestions to help you and your dog enjoy the season.

• Keep to your regular routine as much as possible. Remember if your dog starts showing signs of stress such as nervousness, inappropriate bathroom habits or lack of appetite, this may be due to the changes. Work on getting back to a routine and your pet's behavior may return to normal. If guests make your dog upset, try putting your dog in a comfortable room where guests will not go.
  
  
• The holiday season is time for us to pig out on wonderful treats we don't allow ourselves to eat all year. This should not be transferred to our dogs. The fact is, some of our holiday favorites, such as chocolate or fudge, can be hazardous to our dog's health. Keep those cookies and sweets out of reach so you are not dealing with a sick dog instead of enjoying your holiday.
  
  
• Did you know Poinsettia, mistletoe or Amaryllis plants are hazardous to your dog's health? If you get them during the season, put the real ones out of reach from all your pets and fake ones on the ground. The fakes look very real by the way. If you know your dog has consumed a holiday plant, call your veterinarian to discuss a plan of action. If they ask you to come in immediately, try to bring in a sample of the plant your dog ate.
  
  
• Traveling with your dog? Air travel should be planned in advance. If your dog will be in the luggage compartment ask the airline for their standards and research their loss and complaint reports. They are now required to keep records of this. You should consult your vet to see how you can make your dog the most comfortable. Bringing your dog in the plane with you requires an equal amount of planning. Airlines only allow one to two dogs in cabin on each flight so be sure to make his reservation with yours. You don't want to book your flight and find out he can't come. A blanket and plenty of water are necessary because the temperature changes so significantly on the plane from take off to landing. If your dog is not used to a carrier, do yourself and your dog a favor by practicing at least a month before the flight. This can be done by placing him in the carrier and putting him under a chair for brief amounts of time until he is used to it. The airline will not allow you to leave the bag unzipped during the flight. During layovers take him to the bathroom before boarding your next flight.

If you have any additional tips you think we should share, please contact us and we'll add them to our list.