Pets for Christmas? Tips, Tricks & Responsibility

NCHS highly recommends that before giving a pet as a gift, make sure all parties are onboard and aware of the responsibility it takes to raise and take care of a pet.

TIME: A well cared for pet will live approx. 10-15 years! It's important to ask yourself or the person receiving the pet that they have time for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly duties!

COMMITMENT: Pets take a lot of commitment and they depend on their owners to take care of them and keep them safe! Is the person receiving able to commit the time, energy, and love that the pet deserves!?!

MONEY: It can take quite a bit of money to properly care for a pet. For example: food, litter, treats, beds, collars & leashes, grooming, medical bills, etc.

LOVE: Pets are not a fashion trend or an accessory! They need a ton of love and attention.

Yes, the Christmas tree is pretty. But lets make sure you're keeping those furbabies safe this holiday season, both canines and felines!

Tip #1 - Tinsel & Winter Plants Avoid decorating with tinsel, if swallowed, tinsel can obstruct a pet's digestive system. In addition, did you know there are 5 poisonous winter plants including Holly, Ivy, Snowdrops, Poinsettia, and Mistletoe.

Tip #2 - Plastic Ornaments Choose plastic ornaments over glass ones. Shattered glass ornaments can hard pets.

Tip #3 - Chocolate Baubles Don't decorate with chocolate. That chocolate ornament may be adorable, but its also toxic to pets.

Tip #4 - Stability Make sure the tree is stable. Curious pets can knock over a tree, causing harm and making a mess.

Tip #5 - Electric Cords Hide electrical cords. Cords can be a tripping hazard for excited pets or electrocute pets if they chew on them.

Tip #6 - Chemicals Don't add chemicals to the Christmas water. Chemicals intend to prolong plant life may harm animal life.

Tip #7 - Presents Don't put the presents out just yet. Inquisitive pets may try to open them...

https://iheartdogs.com/could-your-christmas-tree-be-hazardous-to-your-pets-health/

We all love stuffing our faces until our pants cant button during the holidays. So much that is can be tempting to share it with our furfriends. However, knowing which parts of your Christmas Dinner are safe and unsafe for your pets is crucial!

It's best to stick to your pet's main diet as much as possible, as a sudden change can lead to a tummy ache, but if your pet is a healthy weight and you really can't resist, there may be parts of your Christmas dinner that are safe to feed in small amounts. However, it's important to remember that some of our most favorite festive treats are highly toxic or hazardous to our furfriends and need to be avoided at all costs!!