How to keep dogs and cats happy and safe during the festive season

The winter holidays are almost here. While most of the people happen to be readying to decorate their Christmas trees and taking out old family members recipes, it’s also very important to pet owners to come to be extra vigilant in terms of keeping animals safe and healthy and balanced over the yuletide season.

Even though this Christmas and New Year could be a slightly muted affair, you may still find things pet parents should remember to ensure their animals can also benefit from the holidays. The National spoke to two veterinarians in the UAE to listen to what they have to say and share their expert tips.

Dogs and cats are notorious for attempting to eat the leftover food on the owner's plate, but it’s important to remember that it isn't always in their needs, no matter just how much they beg.

“While we may take pleasure in enjoying luxury foods and treats, you should avoid presenting your pets food from your own plate whether or not they search at you with loving eyes. Sharing your meal not only encourages bad habits, but the consequences could be fatal,” says Dr Sara Elliott, founder and director of British Veterinary Hospital in Dubai.

She warns especially about chocolate because it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is highly toxic for both dogs and cats. “Consumption of chocolate can bring about seizures, heart attacks and even the tiniest trace of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhoea,” she adds.

Another concerning food item is Macadamia nuts, which are commonly within festive cookies, but are a choking hazard for most pets.

“They also contain toxins that may cause serious injury to dogs. If consumed, these nuts make a difference a dog's muscles, digestive system and nervous systems, resulting in breathlessness and weakness,” she says.

However, it’s not necessarily the obvious items which can cause risk to pets. Grapes and raisins, both key materials in mince pies and Christmas pudding, also contain a toxic agent that is extremely bad for the kidneys of both cats and dogs.

“Speak to your vet or animal nutritionist about the types of treats your dog can enjoy while you are having the Christmas dinner. It'll make them less considering the contents of your plate, and most of us like to be treated every now and then - especially at this time of year,” says Dr Elliott.

Watch out for decorating hazards

Christmas decorations may also become an issue around the holiday season. Most cat owners know the difficulty of experiencing a Christmas tree, as felines sometimes start to see the shiny ornaments, lights, and branches as toys.

“With pets in the family, it is advisable to select your decorations wisely,” says Dr Elliott. “Avoid investing in glass tree decorations. If your cat manages to smash them when you are not residence, it may lower its paws on damaged glass. Christmas tree lights, if chewed, certainly are a fire hazard and can cause electrocution, so that it is crucial they are switched off and unplugged during the night so when the family isn't at home.”

However, it isn’t merely Christmas trees and ornaments that pet parents ought to be careful of. There will be other holiday decor including flowers and plants to likewise be weary of.

“Tinsel is probably the worst culprits seeing as, if ingested by cats, this may cause what we contact a linear foreign human body condition and that more often than not requires surgery,” says Dr Katrin Jahn, founder of German Veterinary Clinic in Abu Dhabi. “Various decorations possess the potential to trigger problems, largely in the kind of gastroenteritis or intestinal blockages if they are ingested.

“If you want to possess other festive plants throughout the house, avoid choosing mistletoe, holy, lilies and poinsettias, as their pollen, petals, sap and leaves are toxic for dogs and cats, and can bring about digestive upsets and, occasionally, serious medical issues such as cardiac arrhythmia if ingested,” adds Elliott.

Obtaining the right scent

While Jahn suggests hanging decorations larger up to stop pets knocking them off or chewing them, Elliott presents up another suggestion.

“To make sure your cat doesn’t work with your Christmas tree seeing that a plaything, place orange peels at the bottom of the tree. The smell of orange peel isn’t pleasant for cats and, if they detect the scent, they will most very likely avoid the area,” she says.

Animals have sharper senses than humans, so getting the right scent can be important during the getaway, especially since people have a tendency to want to fill their homes with fragrances that evoke nostalgia. Nevertheless, for cats especially, very strong scents could be off-putting or aversive.

Dr Elliott likewise warns that certain imperative oils and fragrances are actually poisonous and could reason fever and chemical burns for cats and dogs. It’s recommended in order to avoid oil-based items made up of scents such as for example cinnamon, pine, wintergreen, lemon and tea tree.

“Alternatively, you could opt for scented candles, but make certain to put them out of reach of house animals and be sure you blow them out before you go out,” she says.

Create a pet grotto in your home

Another important things to consider are New Year's Eve fireworks, that may cause high levels of anxiety and stress for pets.

“When you can hear fireworks out of your home, this might have a long-lasting effect on how your dog reacts to loud noises later on, triggering anxiety,” says Dr Elliott. "Tiring your pets out before the celebrations will set them in a calmer condition through the evening. Take your pet out for an extra long walk and put extra playtime for your cats.”

She also recommends establishing a safe and sound space for household pets to retreat to if indeed they commence to feel anxious. Pet dogs may display signs of shaking or trembling while cats will likely set you back hide from the sounds, or display behaviour issues like hissing or pinning their ears back again.

However, pet owners can also do points such as keeping family pets inside and ensuring almost all windows and doors are shut to muffle the audio of fireworks, and creating their unique distraction, such as playing with their favourite ball or toys to distract their focus from the loud noises.

"If you are at home, offer safety and security by reassuring and comforting your dog. You could also offer a long-lasting chew plaything to distract your pet, as the licking and chewing behaviour can be calming and soothing," says Dr Jahn.

Although if there are any issues, it's advised to be vigilant and take action - whatever day it is. "In the event of an emergency, make sure to contact your vet as quickly as possible to seek professional advice. Some incidents could be fatal if not handled quickly plenty of," says Dr Elliot, before posting one final tip.

"Most importantly, don’t forget to wrap a good pet-friendly present for your four-legged members of the family so they can join in on the festive fun."