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Giving a pet as a Christmas gift is an innovative and wonderful idea, but pet counselors at Petland say you must plan ahead if you intend to give someone a pet over the holidays. A pet shouldn’t be a surprise gift for anyone.
Christmas Day is not the best time to introduce a new pet into the family. Because young pets are like babies and need some time and extra attention to adjust to the family routine, Petland recommends introducing a new pet into the household a little before or after Christmas.
Pets brought into the home before the holidays have time to adjust to housebreaking, exercising and feeding routines. During the holidays, Petland suggests pets be kept occupied with pet-safe toys, well-rested in a pet-safe crate and out of the holiday traffic.
Seasonal care tips for pets
Here are a few other holiday tips from Petland to make the transition easier for families and their pets, especially those living in geographical locations where cold weather is an added concern:
- No rich foods: Refrain from feeding your pet holiday table scraps. Your pet’s digestive system is not receptive to rich people foods.
- Decorations out of reach of paws: When not crated, your pet should be observed often over the holidays, making sure it is not endangering itself by chewing on Christmas paraphernalia - bulbs, lights and wires - that may be harmful.
- Dangerous holiday foliage: Keep pets from coming in contact with holiday plants - mistletoe, holly, and poinsettia. These traditional holiday plants can cause illness. Ingestion of these plants can be toxic to some animals. On contact with these plants, some pets may develop an irritating rash.
- Ventilate while cleaning: Preparing for the holidays usually calls for a thorough cleaning of the house. Inhaled fumes from furniture polish, oven cleaners and rug shampoos can be fatal to a bird’s delicate respiratory system if the house is not properly ventilated. Opening windows is a good idea. An even better idea is to leave your bird at a neighbor’s house until you have finished cleaning and the air has cleared. Because other nosey pets, cats and dogs included, will ingest toxic chemicals, you should always make sure household cleaners are stored in a secure place.
- Cook with care: Those convenient non-stick coatings on your pots and pans release fumes into the home that can be toxic to birds. If you cook and have a bird as a pet, then you may want to turn in your non-stick coated pots and pans for the more traditional glass and stainless steel cookware.
- Veterinary services: Get acquainted with a veterinarian in your community and find out about emergency treatment procedures. Make sure someone is on call if needed over the holidays.
- Rap on the car hood: A warm automobile is a hotel for outdoor cats during the winter months. Every year thousands of cats, who take comfort in sleeping under the hood, are injured or killed when a driver returns to his car and starts the engine. A rap on the car hood before starting the engine will awaken a sleeping cat, giving it time to escape before you rev up and go.
- Give water not ice: Pets who live outdoors during the winter must have fresh water to drink at all times. Water, however, can freeze in a matter of hours when temperatures go below freezing, 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Pet owners who can not replenish their pet’s dish with fresh water several times a day may need to use an electrically heated water dish.
- Provide proper shelter: Having a permanent fur coat does not make your pets safe from winter’s harsh blows. Cats and dogs that live outdoors must have a shelter equipped with clean, dry bedding. The shelter should be just big enough for the pet to get in and turn around. Having a larger cat or dog house is not beneficial, as the animal cannot use its natural body heat to warm the shelter area. Even pet birds housed inside need to have their cages located in places free of feather-chilling drafts.
- Dry those paws: The snow and salt that accumulates in your pet’s paws from daily winter romps can result in irritation, cracking and pain. Paws need to be checked daily and routinely cleaned and dried. Your pet’s coat should be dried off, too, as dampness and chilling can lead to illness.
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