On the 6th Day of Christmas, Caruso gave to me ~ 6 Holiday Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe!
If your pets are anything like mine, the holidays are a festive time with a house full of goodies – from the edible to the not-so edible. To help keep your pets safe from holiday mayhem, I've put together some tips with help from the Humane Society of the U.S.
· Gate off the tree or arrange ornaments up higher on the tree: Keep holiday decorations away from pets. Tinsel, bows, ribbons and wrapping paper can be tempting chew toys for pets but can damage their digestive systems. Remember to keep tree ornaments out of your pet's reach.
· Create a safety zone: Provide your pet with a quiet, out-of-the-way room during holiday parties. Though some pets may enjoy socializing opportunities, others will be overwhelmed by the excitement of a party
· Hide the candy: As you enjoy your See's Candies and other holiday treats, avoid sharing them with the dog and cat. Chocolate can be hazardous, especially in smaller dogs with less body mass. Also watch out for Xylitol, a common sweetener. Individually-wrapped candies are double trouble as some pets might eat both the candy and the wrapper.
· What not to serve: Avoid the urge to give pets table scraps, especially bones. Cooked bones easily splinter and can cause serious health problems or choking. Beware of spicy and fatty fried foods. This can cause indigestion or gastrointestinal problems.
· To travel or not? Trips to family and friends be sure to contact them in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. To avoid stressful situations consider hiring your pet's favorite sitter, while you're making the holiday rounds.
· Fire, fire! Don't leave candles unattended. Pets can accidentally knock them over, spill wax or start a fire.
· Don’t forget about your feathery friends: Some birds have been known to pick and nibble at electric chords, ornaments, food items and other non edible items when they are stressed, which can cause problems or even death.
In our household, the pets are always welcome to partake in the holiday festivities. We are quick, however, to use gates to keep the dogs from family and guests at the dinner table, and treats are given conservatively in the form of a piece of dry beef or raw carrots.
On Christmas morning there are gifts for every furry family member: catnip contraptions for the felines and new squeaky toys for the dogs. I especially love how the wrapping paper becomes the biggest hit of all.
No matter how big or small your holiday festivities are this year, take a minute or two to consider the fate of your non-speaking family members. They can't tell you they're hurting, so get ahead of potential problems and avoid them from the start.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Think Green…
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CLHMS CRB CRS GREEN GRI
Past President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900
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