Shon Green, 4, and his grandmother, Bobbie Allen, shop for a dog at the Humane Society in Omaha. The Humane Society and several Nebraska animal shelters, faced with an abundance of homeless animals, are offering deep discounts in adoption fees this holiday season in an effort to clear out their overcrowded kennels and catteries.
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The Christmas holidays can be full of hazards and stress - not just for people, but for companion animals, too.
During this time of year, there are a lot of things that are out of the ordinary in a companion animal's surroundings - particularly decorations and guests.
Some companion animals ignore them, some take things in stride, and some get agitated, or get overly excited or rambunctious - especially if this is his or her first holiday season.
Now is a great time to practice and put in place safety precautions and reinforce positive behaviors with companion animals so they - and you - can enjoy the holidays.
"In many homes, the Christmas tree is the main attraction, especially for companion animals," said John Stottele, owner of Family of Pets (www.familyofpets.net) with five locations in Metro Detroit. "Artificial trees are most ideal for a family with a companion animal in the home. You can eliminate the risk of paws getting injured or infected by fallen, dry needles. Pine needles can also puncture holes in a dog's or cat's intestines if they're ingested.
"Tree water, a great temptation for companion animals, may harbor bacteria and fertilizer, which can pose serious risks to companion animals," Stottele continued. "If you plan to have a real tree, make sure to cover the water reservoir."
Stottele also serves on the Michigan Department of Agriculture's Companion Animal Advisory Committee and on the governing board of the NexPet Group (www.nexpet.com).
Regardless of fresh or artificial trees, both require a bit of pet-proofing.
"Position tree ornaments and tinsel out of reach of companion animals," Stottele said. "Ingestion of ornaments, which look a lot like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments, and shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body. Tinsel can cause choking hazards and intestinal blockage. It's also a good idea to anchor the tree with string to the ceiling or wall to keep it from falling on curious companion animals - and people, as well."
Burning candles, liquid potpourri, fireplace salts/colors, scented pinecones, snow globes and children's new toys should also be kept out of reach of playful paws. So should live plants such as holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies, which are poisonous to companion animals. Wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, scissors, knives, thumb tacks, sewing needles, pins and buttons can also present potential dangers to inquisitive pets.
Many people include the four-legged members of the family in their holiday parties, and now is a good time to teach or review pet etiquette practices with your pet.
"Even if your companion animal, especially dogs, 'knows' most of the guests coming to your holiday party, it's best to practice sit-and-stay techniques for greeting guests with a willing friend or neighbor," Stottele said. "Have him sit before allowing guests approach him, and be sure to reward his good behavior with a treat. If your dog jumps up on your guests, make sure to use the term 'sit.' Other words may confuse your dog.
"However, some companion animals get overly excited, stressed or fearful when there's a large gathering of people in 'their space' Some will retreat to a quieter part of the house while others may act up or escape from the house, which is a good reason to keep tags on your dog or cat, or better yet, have their identification implanted with a microchip. During guest arrival and departure times, we suggest kenneling or tethering your pet with his leash to keep him from darting out the door. You may want to consider using a pheromone-based spray or plug-in, specially formulated for both cats and dogs, that will relieve their stress and calm them naturally. The spray is odorless to people; has few, if any, side-effects for animals or people; and is available without a prescription."
Holiday time also means good food - perhaps for people, but not for companion animals.
"It's a good idea to keep human food out of reach of companion animals. Tell your guests not to give in to any begging," Stottele said. "Many holiday foods - especially fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate, raisins and alcohol - can cause illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea or pancreatitis."
No matter how busy you get during the holidays, make time to care for your pets.
"Some folks get overwhelmed with their holiday plans, and get lax about walking their dogs," Stottele said. "A few resort to letting companion animals out on their own, which puts the animal in danger and can also lead to nuisance complaints and possible dog bite incidents. Exercise will reduce stress for you and your companion animal. Plus, a well-exercised animal will less likely to be rambunctious when visitors arrive."
