Holiday Pet Safety

Who doesn’t love the holiday? There’s a special magic in the air and baked goods nearly everywhere you go. But as great as the holidays are, there are certain things to be mindful of when it comes to our furry friends.

Holiday Pet Safety Tips:

Purchase booties to protect your pet’s paws if you like to walk during the winter. Walking on snow is unenjoyable for pets, and it can damage their paw pads. When little bits of snow lodge between the paws, the salt causes tears in the skin and pain for your pet. If you can’t purchase booties just yet, be sure to dry your pet with a towel after every walk. Winter weather can also take its toll on cat’s shiny coats.

Be selective with tree ornaments, especially if you have a cat in the house. Cats are drawn to sparkly strings and tinsels and will likely try to climb their way up the tree to catch it. For dogs, hang smaller ornaments toward the top of the tree to prevent any chance of a choking hazard. Finally, be sure to introduce your pet to the tree and train it to stay away from the cord. If you find your pet is drawn to the tree, then build a safety wall around it with a pet fence or simply a row of chairs when you are away from home.

Consider purchasing a new toy to distract your pet from the fun new decorations in the house. Occupy your pets for an extended period of time with chew toys or items like a KONG. Stuff yummy treats inside and watch them enjoy!

Purchase an artificial holiday tree if your pet is prone to allergic reactions. Or at the very least, research where your tree comes from. A 2011 study conducted at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse found 53 types of molds on just 26 conifer tree samples. These mold spores are small and can pass through filters to access the lungs and cause asthma attacks. To play it safe, hose down your tree outdoors and let it air-dry before bringing it into the home.

Practice extra caution with holiday treats. Many people bake breads, cookies and other delicious foods during the holiday season. Don’t forget your pet loves treats as much as you! Keep the goodies covered and inaccessible. Spread the holiday cheer and add a pet recipe into the mix during your baking day this season.

Keep lit candles in safe places where pets cannot access them. If your pet can jump or crawl to up-high spaces, then you might want to purchase battery-operated LED light candles to keep your pet safe from fire or hot wax

Be prepared for a worst case scenario and look up your nearest animal hospital. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, our animals get ahold of something dangerous or just simply get sick. To combat this, be prepared and have the number and location of your local vet handy. The last thing you want is to Google where to go or what to do during an emergency.

Pass the holiday cheer and give back to pets less fortunate than yours. Don’t forget that while you and your furry friend are cuddling near the fire this season, there are plenty of other pets with no homes and inadequate food supplies or veterinary care. Organizations such as Justice Rescue care for animals in all year long, and they are inundated with rescue calls during the cold winter months. All the food and supplies needed to care for the animals at Justice Rescue comes from generous donors like you. http://www.justice-rescue.com/donate.html

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/holiday-toxins-for-pets

About Justice Rescue:

Some might think an abused dog is hopelessly unable to overcome their abuse, but they are amazing creatures. While some dogs make go through unspeakable cruelty, dogs who have been abused, abandoned and seem broken in every way, can learn to trust again. A second chance is something everyone deserves. Since 2011, and at great personal expense, Justice Rescue has taken in and rehabilitated nearly 5,000 dogs to loving forever homes. Justice Rescue does not euthanize for space, and at least a dozen of the current animals that were severely abused and not adoptable, will enjoy lifetime sanctuary with Justice Rescue. Justice Rescue is one of the East Coast’s only nonprofit organizations that actively patrols our communities for animal abuse. If it wasn’t for the generosity of supporters like you, they wouldn’t exist.

Justice Rescue Dog of the week: