Make The Holidays Safe and Fun for all

This holiday I wish to share some tips and important information so the holidays can be safe and jolly for all human and pet kind. All information provided has been Vetted and produced by trusts parties.

FOOD

A lot of Popular Christmas foods can be poisonous for us pets. If you want to treat us at Christmas and you know all want you too make sure your aware of what's safe. Lets start with the absolute NO NOS, as in poisonous:

• Chocolate

• Mince pies

• Christmas pudding

• Onion gravy

• Alcohol

• Bones from carcasses - these are a dangerous choking hazard!

So I hear you and your pets cry our "WHAT IS SAFE!!!!!" and the rule is K.I.S.S (Keep it simple silly). Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey/chicken is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it's not covered in fat, salt or gravy. Places like the RSPCA has amazing treat biscuit recipes be sure to check it out if you want to make dog safe treats.

TREES AND DECORATIONS

Some of the things you have in your home can be dangerous too, it's a time for wonder and light and decorations! Some festive plants and flowers can be toxic to pets, including poinsettias, holly, ivy, mistletoe and lilies, so avoid buying these if you have pets! Even the best trained of us can't help ourselves sometimes and we just need a nibble. Daily Paws made this handy dandy visual plant guide in case you weren't sure what they were.

Tinsel and wrapping paper might be tempting for your pet to play with, and no matter how cute we are doing so please make sure we don't eat it! Then there is the centre piece of most homes! The Christmas Tree! It's best to only allow your pets around the tree when we can be supervised. The most over looked hazards are Hanging edible decorations, such as chocolate or candy canes, these are poisonous to pets and can make us seriously ill. Real pine trees cause trouble for us pets as well, we might be tempted to toilet indoors, the needles can get stuck in paws and are poisonous if eaten.

TOP FOUR PAW POINTS TO LEAVE YOU WITH

1. Make sure during all this Christmas Chaos that you pet have somewhere safe and quite to have a break in case it gets too much, some pets cope better then others, it might be worth having a treat or calming help on hand in case their stress and anxiety get to much.

2. Try to keep our normal routines as much as you can, Between rotten weather and parties and the hours of daily light we super appreciated when our routines are kept. This helps us be less stressed, cant prevent unwanted accidents and help us handle the extra seasonal excitement.

3. Please understand we don't really get the point of all this excitement, so if we don't want to join in (we all don't like jumpers) or accidently break something when we investigate it, are not trying to be bad. Be gentle in your introduction of the holidays to pets, young, old, recuse or other.

4. GRIT! If you take us for walks where the ground has been gritted to stop ice please! please, please wash our paws after as this can make us hurt and really sick if we lick it off.

Have a wonderful time this end of year, may there be many tennis balls to chase, treats to be eaten and memories with loved ones! Oh and to my beloved handler! Alison, who I care for very much I have worked hard for all year round. My present size is Unicorn.