The holidays bring warmth, celebration, and time with the people we love, but for our pets, this season can be a little overwhelming. With visitors coming and going, decorations around the house, and lots of changes in routine, even the calmest cats and dogs can feel stressed.

At Wags Animal Hospital, we want to help you keep your pets safe, relaxed, and comfortable throughout the festivities. With a few simple steps, you can make this season joyful for every member of your family — furry ones included.

Gladstone and Neji just recently moved in together and they’re already planning and decorating for the holiday!

Helping Pets Handle Visitors, Noise & Holiday Gatherings

Holiday activities can disrupt a pet’s normal routine — more people, louder environments, unfamiliar scents, and busy schedules. Pets may show stress through behaviors like hiding, pacing, drooling, panting, refusing food, or becoming overly excited or nervous. 

Here are some tips to minimize stress and keep them safe. 

• Create a “safe space” in your home where pets can retreat: a quiet room with their bed, water, toys, and soft music.
• Stick to normal feeding, walking, and play schedules as much as possible. 
• Supervise interactions with guests and children. Remind visitors not to feed pets or overwhelm them. 
• Monitor exterior doors closely. Nervous pets may slip out during gatherings. 

If your pet has anxiety, calming aids or vet-recommended products may help (and should be tested before busy holidays).

Keeping Pets Safe Around Holiday Decorations

Christmas trees can tempt pets, and fallen needles, climbing, and chewing may lead to injuries or intestinal issues. It’s also important to keep tree water covered, as additives and preservatives can be harmful if ingested. Place fragile ornaments higher up and avoid glass or salt-dough ornaments within reach. Skip tinsel and ribbon for cats, since ingestion can cause dangerous intestinal blockages. Be sure to secure light cords and keep electrical wires out of reach to prevent shocks or burns. Live Hanukkah candles are also a hazard, so they should be placed where they cannot be knocked over by a wagging tail or burn a curious pet.  

In addition, be mindful of holiday plants like mistletoe, lilies, holly, amaryllis, and poinsettias, as many are toxic for pets. Finally, keep small items such as bows, ribbons, and decorative pieces out of reach to avoid choking or intestinal issues.

Vanilla finished her holiday shopping early. Even without opposable thumbs, she was able to wrap her gift impeccably!

Holiday Food Safety Reminders

For pets, many traditional holiday foods can cause gastrointestinal issues, toxicity, or choking. 

• Avoid giving pets chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions/garlic, alcohol, cooked bones, or rich, seasoned dishes. 
• Remind guests not to slip table scraps to pets.
• Those delicious sufganiyot and latkes are full of oil and can easily result in pancreatitis post-ingestion. 
• Feed pets their usual meal when your family sits down to eat. They’ll feel included and stay safe.
• Offer pet-friendly treats or veterinarian-approved snacks if you want to give them something special.

With a little planning, the holiday season can be safe, calm, and happy for the pets you love. Thank you for trusting us to care for your cats and dogs — they are part of our Wags family, too. We wish you a warm, joyful and healthy holiday season filled with comfort, celebration and plenty of cozy moments with your furry companions. Contact us if you need us for anything.