Printed on December 21, 2023

City of San Antonio Animal Care Services Department   

Animal Care Providers affords tricks to get pleasure from a contented, wholesome, and secure vacation along with your companion animals

SAN ANTONIO (December 21, 2023) – Now that the vacations are right here. individuals will likely be spending extra time indoors entertaining. Residents might wish to embrace their pets within the merrymaking. however that might imply bother and not using a few elementary precautions. The vacations might be merry and vivid for our four-legged mates by following these easy ideas from San Antonio Animal Care Providers (SAACS):

Vacation Pet Conduct

  • Take note of your companion animal. Pets are sometimes ignored within the rush and pleasure of the vacations. This may result in mischief.

  • Uncertain about how your pet will react to all the brand new faces in the home? Pets can act aggressively and even chew or scratch out of worry. Create a secure, snug place to your pet to calm down. Ensure you put out loads of recent meals, water, and toys. 

  • Play along with your canine or cat at the very least twice a day for twenty minutes. A drained pet is much less prone to make a large number or do one thing “off limits.”

  • Use child gates to chop off entry to “restricted” areas.

  • Let your pet benefit from the holidays too with some new toys or treats. Not all pets will tolerate a festive sweater, vacation hat, and even an embellished collar. 

Widespread Meals Risks

  • Vacation goodies must be evaded your pet. Chocolate, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, and candies or gums with the substitute sweetener Xylitol are all harmful and probably deadly to pets.

  • Giving alcohol to a pet–even a sip or two–is harmful and could possibly be deadly.

  • Bear in mind, poultry bones are a choking hazard, they usually can splinter.

  • It might be tempting however don’t give your pet meals off the desk. Vacation meals like tamales, ham, or menudo might be onerous in your animal’s abdomen and will result in diarrhea and vomiting. Nobody needs to spend the vacations cleansing up pet messes or worse, taking their pet to the emergency clinic!

Different Vacation Hazards

  • Widespread vacation vegetation like lilies, mistletoe, and holly berries are very toxic to pets. Poinsettias aren’t as poisonous however might trigger abdomen misery if ingested.

  • Forgo the image of your pet lined in present wrap and hold them away out of your stocking haul. Ribbons, foil wrappers, and cellophane sweet wrappers is usually a choking hazard and trigger intestinal blockage if swallowed.

  • Twinkling lights is usually a main attraction for a curious pet. Reside bushes typically have fertilizer, flocking, or different components that may make your pet sick. Use ornamental gates or different means to maintain your pets away from the tree to forestall climbing and different hazards.

Should you suspect your animal might have ingested one thing poisonous, get your pet to a vet instantly or name the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Management Middle at 1-888-426-4435, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week (there could also be a cost).