Make sure your pet has a stress-free Christmas

Although Christmas is an exciting time for families in particular, unfortunately all the changes that it brings in your pet’s environment can be quite stressful for them. The change to their routine, with family on holiday from school or work, lots of visitors, loud music, new smells and aromas can be very disturbing. On top of that, the temptation to explore the tree with its piles of presents, dangling baubles, lights and tinsel can pose a real threat to their safety.

Without reining in the festive spirit too much, it is possible to make a few small adjustments to help settle your pet throughout Christmas-time:

• Keep your pets’ normal feeding times and exercise routine constant during the festive period. Shorter days and poor weather can make it tempting to cut short dog-walking but your pet will be more settled if it is tired from fresh air and fun outside.
• Allow a cosy, quite place for your pet to retreat from the festive madness of over excited children and noisy adults! They should be able to sneak away quietly and hide under a bed upstairs for example.
• Pheromone therapy is an inexpensive and popular solution for pets stressed out by the festive fever. Suitable for any standard plug socket and undetectable to humans, diffusers can be plugged in to slowly release a pacifying phenome which helps to calm pets and cure destructive behavioural problems. Alternatively, pheromone collars can be worn by your pet or you can use a spray on their bedding or soft furnishings around the house. Whichever method, introduce the pheromone a week before Christmas to allow for it to build up to significant levels to create a relaxing state.
• Keep electrical cables from the tree lights out of reach of your pets or get a cable guard for them.
• When buying new, consider your tree decorations and choose those labelled non-toxic.
• Avoid edible tree decorations which will tempt your pet to try to reach them and potentially pull over your tree.
• Avoid putting food-based presents, particularly chocolates and hampers under your tree.
• Do not share your Christmas treats, particularly turkey bones which can splinter, and definitely not chocolate which is toxic for pets, as are dried fruit and grapes.
• Be aware that holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, ferns and pine sap are poisonous too.
• If you have a real tree, vacuum daily to reduce the risk of pine needles causing poorly paws or being ingested.
• Make sure that children are supervised around your pets at all times.
• Why not use Christmas as an excuse to treat your pet to a new toy approved by your vets. Something new which they are permitted to play with will distract them from other less suitable temptations, like someone’s new slippers!