Take care of your pets this Christmas

By Danielle Kutchel

Christmas is a time for family – and pets are family too, meaning they too deserve special care and attention over the festive season.

It can be a hectic time, with visitors, deliveries, and even time away from home to cope with, along with hotter weather.

Changes in routine can be distressing for some animals, and the extra feet in the house, or banging on the door by the postie, can be distressing.

Disruption caused by family members going on holidays can compound the stress your fur baby feels at this time of year.

RSPCA Victoria has put together a number of tips on how to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe this season.

Tips include:

– Keep decorations up high and out of reach of playful pooches and clever kitties who might see your delicate glass baubles or dangling tinsel as toys. Tinsel, string and ribbon might seem like fun, but they can cause obstructions in the intestines if a pet ingests them. Glass baubles can break into dangerous shards if your pet plays with them, so it’s best to keep them out of harm’s way.

– Don’t feed your pets cooked bones.

– If you plan to give your pet some meat scraps, make sure these are given in small quantities and are free of any sauces that might upset their stomachs.

– Many Christmas plants, like holly, poinsettia, lillies and mistletoe are highly toxic for pets, so keep them out of reach.

– Ensure your pet has a quiet spot where they can rest, de-stress and wind down, away from noise, visitors and prying children. Don’t allow children to hug and kiss your dog and if the dog licks its lips, shows the whites of its eyes or turns its head away when being patted, intervene immediately. Ensure your pet is always under the charge of a responsible adult – one that you both trust.

Additionally, don’t be tempted to give pets as surprise Christmas gifts. A pet is for life, not just the holidays, and needs to be properly introduced to the home. Talk to your loved one and decided whether they are ready to make that commitment. When they are ready, head to a reputable shelter to adopt a pet that needs a home, and ensure the pet gets desexed, registered and microchipped.

And don’t buy un-desexed pets from markets, newspapers or online marketplaces.