Celebrate the Holiday Season with your Pet - Fun Activities and Pet Safety Tips
December is all about holidays and sharing joy.
It’s that exciting time of the year where you reminisce over all the beautiful memories you got to make with your loved ones (especially your pet!) and look forward to the New year hoping to make even better ones.
And with the challenging year, 2020 has been, it is time to end it with a bang (or even a loud 'bark!)
So, here are some exciting ways to spend a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy New Year’ with your dog/cat.
Important Discussion Points In This Guide
- Exciting Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season with your Pet
- 5 Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season
- Holiday Goodies for your Dog and Cat
Exciting Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season with your Pet
Host a safe pet party at home
You can plan a fun (& safe) party with fellow pet parents at your home. Come up with fun games, treats, or a holiday-themed costume competition and let your dogs and cats have fun. Both you and your pet are bound to have a fun time at the party!
" Spend the best time of the year with your best fur buddy "
Make treats at home with your dog
Just because your dog can’t have chocolate treats, doesn't mean that they have to stay out of the fun. Whip up some exciting treats for your pet with their favorite ingredients like peanut butter or even their go-to kibble.
Shop Best Dog Chew Treats
Playtime with your dog/cat
Grab your pet and their favorite toy and start playing. Playing with your pet is a great way to build a bond and share joy, and what better time to do that than the holiday season. Also, it’s a good way to get your pet’s daily exercise covered!
Outdoor activities with your pet
Plan an exciting “Christmas treasure hunt". Be your pet’s Santa and give them cute Lil Christmas presents. Hide them inside your home or out on your lawn and set their favorite treats on top of the presents to turn it into a fun treasure hunt!
Dress your pet up in Christmas sweaters and costumes
Make the holiday season extra fun by dressing your dog and cat up. From Snoopy to “Santa and his elf”, there are various ideas you could come up with to dress them for the holiday season. But do make sure to choose a costume that does not cause any discomfort to your pet.
Rest at home with your Pooch
There’s no better place to spend the cold days of Christmas and New Year, than at home with your favorite furball. Choose a cozy Christmas movie, grab some cinnamon rolls for you and treats for your dog, and have the best of the holiday season right at home.
Give back to a pet shelter
Be a Santa for the four-legged buddies at a pet shelter. A beautiful way to spend this holiday season would be by giving back.
You could donate to a pet shelter or to any social cause that you support. And this year, Santa sure does need extra hands to spread the joy!
Now that you have an idea of how to spend the holiday season with your pet, there are few things you need to look out for to have a safe Christmas and New Year.
5 Pet Safety Tips for this Holiday Season
Keep cakes, candies and chocolates away from your pet
One of the best things about the holiday season is the endless pastries and chocolate treats. From plum cakes and cinnamon buns to hot chocolates and candy canes, every house turns into a sugar-heaven.
But these delicious treats are not the safest options for your pet. Cakes made of dried fruits and nuts can cause serious issues to pets, even when cooked. And it's always best to keep your dog away from the Theobromine, largely found in chocolates.
Do not feed your dog chicken or turkey bones
With dinners and parties lying ahead, feeding your dog leftover turkey or chicken bone may seem like a safe option.
But these bones pose a choking hazard. Even cooked poultry bones can cause possible blockages. It’s also best to keep your cat away from meals that contain garlic, as it may cause garlic poisoning.
Christmas tree safety measures
If you’re someone who likes to go all-in for Christmas with trees and decorations, then the following tips are for you:
- Trees like pine are dangerous to your furballs. If they accidentally end up ingesting them, they can cause diarrhea or even blockages in a few cases.
- Make sure to secure your tree if you have an excited cat at home. Tie the tree to a poll or secure it safely on a stand near the wall, particularly in a manner that it does not move or fall if your furball tries to attack or play against it.
- Clean up the stagnant water in your Christmas tree stand. These areas can turn out to be spots for the growth of harmful bacteria and can also contain tree saps. If your pet ends up drinking this water it can turn out to be harmful to them and can cause issues like nausea or diarrhea.
Choose safe holiday decorations and ornaments
Try to opt for safe decorations this season. Switch out the candles for artificial lights. Decorate your house and tree in such a way that it is out of your pet’s reach. This will keep both your pet and ornaments safe!
Create a safe place away from the holiday season chaos
Your dog or cat can get easily overwhelmed and anxious because of the noise and lights that come with the holiday season. So, as a precaution, it's best for pet parents to create a safe place or place a crate for pets with their favorite blanket or toy!
Holiday Goodies for your Dog and Cat
With all the joy and celebration that the holiday season brings, take some time to thank your buddies who’ve made the past year special in more ways than one.
And since action speaks louder than words, and a present speaks the loudest, go ahead and gift your furball their favorite treat, toy or even a holiday sweater!
Here are a few curated gifts by Poochles for your pet.
Shop Cool Holiday Season Goodies for your Pet
We hope that you and your family have a Purr-fect Christmas and a Paw-some New Year!
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