Tis the season for family visits, holiday parties, festive decorations... and unfortunately, many risks for your beloved pet. This time of year gives us lots of reasons to celebrate, but it’s important that we don’t get so caught up in the party that we forget about pet safety. From avoiding unhealthy foods to keeping dangerous decorations out of reach, here’s how to keep your pet safe this year and handle their holiday stress with the help of pet CBD.
Winter Safety With a Consistent Diet and CBD Routine
Food is a major part of any holiday celebration and many holiday feasts will present a handful of risks for your pet’s health. During the winter holidays, it’s crucial to keep your pet’s routine consistent, giving them the same foods at the same times, as well as the same amount of CBD each day to help them maintain a healthy stasis.
Avoid giving your dog or cat table scraps at the holiday meals, because many popular holiday foods have high amounts of fat, sugar, and salt that are dangerous to pets, or might even include vegetables that are toxic for dogs and cats to consume. With that in mind, it’s also important to lock up your trash can while cooking and eating your holiday meals.
If you feel bad that your pet is left out of the food festivities, treat them to a new CBD cat treat or dog treat with special flavors. As long as you give them the same amount of CBD each day, you can mix up the delivery method with flavored pet CBD oils or treats of different textures, from crunchy to chewy! When you travel for the holidays with pets, don’t forget to bring along your pet’s favorite brand of food, usual food bowl, and their CBD oil, so you don’t have to disrupt the routine just because you aren’t at home. There are likely to be many changes in routine in the holidays, but feeding times, pet CBD doses, and snacks should be as consistent as possible.
Use CBD to Manage Common Holiday Stressors for Pets
For most of us, the holiday season means more people and more travel – both of which can be stressful on us and on our pets. Many people will be traveling to see family over the winter and this might mean some time away from your pet, even if it’s just a few hours of Christmas shopping or dinner at your parents’ house. When these extended periods of time away from you happen, your pet might experience separation stress. This is demonstrated by whining or barking, chewing on furniture or other items, scratching walls and doors, and possibly using the bathroom inside (even if they are fully potty trained).
If your dog or cat shows any signs of stress while you are away, it’s possible they are suffering from separation stress. It’s not uncommon for a well-adjusted animal to start displaying these signs during the holiday season, when people tend to be away from home for longer periods of time with more frequency. Pet CBD oil can be a supportive tool for dogs and cats that experience separation stress because it will generate a sense of well-being and calm that allow your pet to feel more confident.
Even if you’re around consistently, the noise and stress during the holiday season can trigger your pet. Many dogs and cats experience noise aversion and struggle to maintain their typical levels of calm when it’s loud or busy, especially in their territory.
In addition to providing a safe space for your dog or cat and plenty of toys and entertainment to distract them during the festivities, you can add some extra calming support into your pet’s daily CBD wellness routine. Our calming CBD tinctures for cats and dogs both feature melatonin, which can support your pet’s regular sleep schedule, and an herbal blend that will help them maintain their chill amidst the chaos of the holiday season. For dogs, our Calming pet CBD Soft Chews will taste like a special treat and help them relax with the soothing powers of L-tryptophan.
Other Holiday Hazards and Pet Safety Tips
In light of the excitement and stress of the holidays, you’ll also want to be careful that your pet doesn’t run off or get lost. Your pet should always wear some form of identification – usually a collar with a tag or placard on it that gives their name and your phone number. Even with a collar and ID, which can come off, it’s always important to microchip both cats and dogs. Maintaining their regular routine as much as possible, including their proper daily dose of CBD, will help your dog or cat feel more calm, which will make them less likely to bolt out the door in fear.
You’ll also want to watch out for toxic plants that often appear during the holidays, like poinsettias, which contain a white sap that can cause drooling and vomiting in cats and dogs. Also, mistletoe can make your pet sick, and pine trees can generate sharp needles that are dangerous for pets. Decorations can even be a danger: burning candles present the risk of burning your pet and almost any kind of decor can be ingested and cause minor to serious gastrointestinal issues. Keep a close eye on your pet as often as possible and, when it’s not possible to watch your furry friend, ensure they are safely removed from items that might be risky.
Use Pet CBD and Preparation to Ensure a Safe Winter Season
Pet CBD will support your dog or cat’s ability to remain chill and enjoy the holidays, rather than feeling frantic or being too curious and injuring themselves. While prevention is the key to a successful holiday, accidents still happen. If your dog eats something they shouldn’t, or your cat pulls the Christmas tree down on top of them and they’re limping, you need to have an emergency plan.
Veterinarian offices, like any other business, often have limited holiday hours and closures that might make it difficult to reach your pet’s doctor. Keep your veterinarian’s holiday hours posted on the refrigerator so everyone knows if they’re available in case of an emergency. And if they’re not, you should have directions and a phone number for the nearest 24-hour veterinary emergency clinic. It’s also wise to keep the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number handy (888-426-4435) as well.
Your pet can enjoy the holiday celebrations as much as you do if you maintain a consistent diet, schedule, and CBD routine. Pet safety during the holidays is mostly about paying attention and being intentional with the choices you make on decorations, food, visitors, and preparation. Use our holiday safety tips to be sure you and your beloved animal have a fun, accident-free holiday season!
