Even though your pet doesn't have to worry about shopping for gifts, or cooking for the family, there are plenty of things you to can do to help your pet avoid stress this festive season.
1. Plan for your pets! If you're going away, ensure you have booked them in to a reputable boarding kennel, or arranged pet-sitting with a friend or a sitter from our partner, petcloud.com.au. Most importantly, ensure your pet has your UP TO DATE contact information on their collar! If your pet goes missing the fastest way that they can be reunited with you is if your phone number is clearly readable on their collar or tag.
2. Avoid overindulgence. Treats are fine now and then, but avoid feeding extremely fatty food to your pet, such as ham trimmings -- this can trigger pancreatitis. Do not feed any cooked bones, as these can splinter and damage their mouth, throat, and intestinal tract. No matter how much they beg, never feed your dog chocolate or alcohol -- this can make them very sick, and even be fatal at high doses. Why not prepare your pet their own special Christmas treat using pet food, so that they can have something delicious during the festive season without worry about making them sick?
3. Give your pet a place to relax. If you are having guests over, and your pet isn't used to this, provide them with a calm and quiet hideaway so that they can relax. Give them a Kong or other enrichment toy to occupy them while they are away from the action. Crate training can be a fantastic way to help your dog learn to settle, but if your dog has not yet been crate trained, a quiet room such as the laundry will be a better option!
4. Supervise kids and dogs. Unfortunately, many bite incidents between kids and dogs occur during the holiday period, and most of these incidents involve an animal known to the child. Teach children to give animals their own space, especially at crowded parties. If you cannot supervise all interactions, put the animal away and direct the child to an alternative activity. Even if your dog gets along well with your own children, do not assume your dog will like all children. Importantly, do not assume that all children know how to appropriately interact with dogs!
5. Help your pets beat the heat. In the Australian summer temperatures are often unbearable! Ensure that your pet always has plenty of access to shade and lots of fresh water. If your dog has a black or dark brown coat, remember that when they're in the sun they will be absorbing heat much more quickly than a white dog. Why not make your dog an icy treat to help them cool down? It can be as simple as quarter-filling an ice cream container with water or salt-reduced stock (half strength), adding a serve of your dog's normal dry food (and maybe a biscuit or a little bit of chopped sausage!) and then freezing. Pop the ice treat out of the container and leave your dog to have at it on the back lawn! (This will be messy, so don't feed this one inside!)
For more information about crate training, enrichment toys, and working with kids & dogs, why not sign up for a course with RSPCA School for Dogs?
From our furry families to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
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