10 top ten tips for your pets this christmas

sambo

Top Ten Tips for an animal-friendly Christmas

from the RSPCA

Don't give pets as presents
Taking on a pet is a commitment to that animal for life, and should never be made on someone else's behalf.

Don't leave pets at home alone
If you are going away for Christmas or New Year, make sure adequate arrangements have been made for the care of your pets. The RSPCA leaflet, 'Leave your pets in safe hands' gives useful tips on caring for your animals while you are away.

Think about travel arrangements for pets
If you are taking your pet away with you, make sure it has provision for water and exercise during long journeys. If your pet is prone to travel sickness or anxiety, consult your vet before you travel.

Give your pet a quiet corner away from festivities
Pets are easily upset by loud bangs from crackers and party poppers. Keep your pets in a quiet room away from all the noise.

Keep Christmas decorations out of reach of pets
Fairy lights often appeal to playful pets and should never be left unattended. Decorative yew tree branches and berries can also be lethal to pets if chewed or swallowed. Also watch out for small toys and burst balloons that could easily choke a pet.

Be sensible with Christmas treats for pets
Never give pets bones: they could easily choke. It isn't being kind to feed a pet chocolate, sweets or cakes. Chocolate is toxic to pets and a sudden change of diet can cause stomach upsets.

Try to stick to your usual pet care routine
Christmas can be a very unsettling time for pets. Try to minimse the disruption by sticking as far as possible to your usual feeding, care and exercise regimes.

Take care when buying Christmas presents for pets
Don't buy toys that can be easily swallowed or bitten into small pieces that pets could choke on. The RSPCA recommends instead buying pet insurance or having pets microchipped so that they can be easily returned if they become lost or stray.

Don't forget about animals kept outside
Pets such as horses, rabbits and pond fish need extra attention at this time of year. Animals kept in hutches should be given extra bedding and, if possible, moved into a dry shed or garage. Fishponds and horse troughs should be regularly checked so that the water does not freeze over.

Be prepared for emergencies
Accidents do happen, so make sure you have details of emergency vets available during the Christmas and New Year period.

please feel free to add any of your own.
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sambo

If You Are Staying Home:

Plants: Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are poisonous to cats and dogs.

Electrical cords: If chewed on, they can electrocute your pet. Make sure strands of lights, loose wires and extension cords are out of reach.

Tree ornaments: Glass can cut little paws if stepped on and tinsel can block your pets' intestines if eaten. And use yarn instead of hooks to hang your ornaments as metal ornament hooks can get caught in your pet's mouth.

Packages under the tree: Bows, ribbons, toys, even those tiny ornaments used to decorate presents, can be swallowed and cause your pet to strangle.

The tree: Cats may try to climb it. Dogs may try to eat it. Both situations are bad news and children as well as animals could get hurt if the tree falls over. Be sure to cover your tree stand with skirting so pets can't drink water from the tree stand. The tree sap in the water can cause mouth sores, vomiting or diarrhea.
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sambo

Electrical cords: If chewed on, they can electrocute your pet. Make sure strands of lights, loose wires and extension cords are out of reach.

I had an encounter with the one above last night, i brought some really pretty fluffy snow lights that hang down and they can be set at different speeds to look like falling snow, i had spent half an hour maybe longer placing them carefully in my daughters window and then went outside to admire them.

Well this morning my cat jess had pulled them down luckily they weren't plugged in as i had remembered at about 10 last night to turn them off.
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pollaton

well wilson is scared to death of the tree, so not too many worries there. just the over indulgence of treats with him...seems as he thinks that he should get at least one of everything we have.
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