Holiday Pet Safety Tips

The holiday season is officially here! It’s time to celebrate with family and friends with decorations, gifts and luscious foods. It’s tempting to give in to the soulful looks of your furry friends when you’re enjoying exotic foods, it’s important to know that some of your favorite foods and decorations can be toxic or dangerous to your pets.

Foods that Can be Toxic to Your Pet

•  Alcohol in beer, wine, mixed drinks
• Caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks, cold medications and pain killers
• Chocolate in candies, cakes and cocoa
• Yeast Dough before baking
• Raw Eggs
• Fat Trimmings and Bones
• Grapes, Raisins and Currants
• Macadamia Nuts
• Milk and Dairy Foods
• Onions and Garlic
• Persimmon, Peach and Plum pits contain cyanide
• Raw Meat and Fish
• Salty Foods
• Sugary Drinks and Desserts
• Xylitol sweetened candy, toothpaste, gum, baked goods and diet foods

Be Careful with Your Holiday Decorations

The following holiday decorations have been known to be hazardous to pets:

• Pointsettias, Lilies, Mistletoe and Holly Berries
• Tinsel and Garland if ingested
• Candles can cause burns or become a fire hazard
• Electrical Cords if chewed
• Flocking or Imitation Snow
• Preservatives in Live Christmas Tree Water
• Snow Globes and Bubble Lights can contain toxic chemicals
• Edible Ornaments can have toxic components
• Potpourri can contain Essential Oils that can be toxic to cats: Cinnamon Bark Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil,  Melaleuca/Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Thyme Oil or Wintergreen Oil

Plan Your Festivities to Avoid Your Pets’ Anxiety

You love sharing your home with family and friends, but make sure to consider your pets when entertaining – what’s fun for you may be stressful for your furry family members.

While your Labrador can be comfortable in the midst of the party, your cat may not be as social. Know your pet, if you think your cat or shy dog might be freaked out by so many strangers in the house, give them safe haven in a closed bedroom, their crate, or bed in a quiet corner.

Be sure to caution your guests about approaching your pets while they are in their “safe spots”. When your pets feel that they’re safe, they’ll come out of hiding to mingle, but don’t be surprised if they don’t appreciate your party.

Get a Hale Pet Door and Take the Stress Out of the Holidays

 Your pets’ safe haven may be their fenced backyard. When you have an energy efficient Hale Pet Door, your pets can come and go to the party as they please.

If you’re going to be away for the holidays, your pet sitter will appreciate the convenience your dog door brings to her schedule and your dog’s well being because he won’t have to wait for someone to come and let him out.

When you’re out visiting friends and relatives, the time can fly by – but with a durable Hale Pet Door, you won’t have to worry about getting home to let your dog out because she’ll be able to go out when she needs to.

There are dog doors for every location in your home. Check them out at Hale Pet Door and order yours today!