🎄 Holiday Tips for Pet Safety & Routine Survival

The holidays bring fun, food, decorations—and lots of disruptions. While it's a season for celebration, it can also be stressful (and risky) for our pets. Here are some essential tips to keep your furry family members safe, happy, and as close to their normal routine as possible this holiday season:

🧅Keep holiday foods out of reach (especially chocolate, grapes, onions, and rich/fatty foods).

🎄Secure your Christmas tree so it can’t topple if a cat or curious dog tries to climb or bump it.

🎀Avoid tinsel, ribbon, and string decorations — they’re irresistible and dangerous if swallowed.

🕒Stick to regular meal and walk times as much as possible to keep pets grounded.

🕯️Use flameless candles instead of real ones to avoid fire risks with wagging tails and curious paws.

👀Supervise guests interacting with your pets, especially kids who might not know pet boundaries.

🍷Keep alcohol out of reach—even small amounts are toxic to pets.

🌿Skip real mistletoe and holly—both are poisonous to cats and dogs.

🔌Watch electric cords from lights and decorations—cover them or keep them out of chewing range.

🎶Set up a cozy pet zone in a “quiet room” with their favorite bed, toys, and calming music to help with overstimulation and to retreat to during loud parties or gatherings.

🐕Limit costumes to tolerant pets—and make sure anything worn is safe, fits well, and doesn’t restrict movement.

🚽Plan potty breaks before events start so pets aren't left holding it or stressed during the party.

🤧Be mindful of visitor allergies — have a lint roller and pet-free zone if needed.

🐈‍⬛Introduce new people or pets slowly to avoid overwhelming your animals.

🎒Prep your pet’s travel bag early if you're traveling—include food, water, meds, leash, favorite toy, and bedding.

The holidays are way more fun when everyone—two-legged and four-legged—can celebrate safely and happily! A little prep, a lot of treats, and some patience with all the holiday chaos will keep tails wagging and whiskers twitching. Here's to a season of cozy naps, sneaky snack stealing, and memories made with your favorite furry sidekicks! 🐾🎁✨