Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. It's a time for families to come together and celebrate. However, during the silly season, it's easy to forget about our fur-parent responsibilities and ensure our pets enjoy the festivities as much as we do.

With this in mind, let's discuss tips on how to keep your pets happy, healthy, and content during the holiday season.

FOOD SAFETY WITH PETS

Reminder: Chocolate isn't the only food that is toxic for animals.

When it comes to Christmas leftovers, remember that onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, nuts, and avocados are all toxic to pets. So keep an eye on the ingredient list and recipes you share with your four-legged friends. You may also want to limit the amount of high-fat foods such as ham, skins, rings, or crackling, as these can cause quite an upset tummy in your precious pets, and no one wants an emergency vet trip over the holidays.

We know, we know, it's easy to share the plethora of Christmas food with your dog. But when you combine thanksgiving, Christmas Lunch and Dinner, and the continued festivities across the festive season, it's easy to lose track of what and how much your pet is consuming.

Try to stick to their regular diet as much as possible, limiting treats and snacks for special occasions. And if you want to give them something special, look into Pet Food Australia's range of healthy pet-friendly treats.

ROUTINE DISRUPTION

Christmas tends to bring a lot of disruption to our regular daily routine. This time can be stressful and confusing for your pet, so it's essential to maintain some level of normalcy in the lead-up to Christmas.

Try to keep their exercise levels consistent, particularly with dogs who need regular walks and runs. Ensuring they get adequate rest is also important, especially in a house full of Christmas-induced energy.

INCLUDE YOUR PETS IN THE FESTIVITIES

Most pets love the Christmas season, so include them in all the festivities. Play with them and give them an extra cuddle or two, and you better make sure they have a couple of presents to unwrap (tear apart) on Christmas morning.

P.S. You’ll be in the good books with your fur-child if they unwrap our treat bundle this Christmas. View the product details here.

HEATSTROKE AWARENESS

With temperatures steadily rising, pet owners must also be aware of the dangers of heatstroke in their animals. Heatstroke is a severe and potentially fatal condition for pets, so ensure your furry friend has access to plenty of shade and cool water while outside.

If you'd like to read up on ways to ensure your pet stays cool this Summer season, head to our previous blog:

How To Keep Your Pet Cool In Summer

KEEP THE CALM

Christmas can be overwhelming for our furry friends, with houseguests, excessive noise, and late nights and early mornings they didn't see coming. So, keeping your pet safe and relaxed during the Christmas craziness is essential. Make sure somewhere quiet is available for them to retreat if things get too much.

You may also have holiday getaway plans that involve your pets; if so, research pet-friendly accommodations and be prepared with supplies. You should also provide plenty of enrichment activities to keep them occupied and entertained, such as fun chew toys or interactive games.

If you're planning on leaving your pet alone for a long time, ensure you have someone to look after them. Having a pet sitter come over and check in on your pets during the day can help keep their routine from being too disrupted and offer peace of mind if something were to go wrong.

DECOR MANAGEMENT

Grey tabby kitten playing with ornament in Christmas tree

When decorating your Christmas tree, be mindful of where you place your decorations and the cords that come with lighting displays. Make sure these are placed out of reach of curious paws and mouths, as these can pose choking hazards to your pets. And we don't want any bauble casualties.

And let's not forget our curious cats who love conquering the Christmas Tree climb. Securing your Christmas tree to the wall is a great way to ensure that playful kitty paws do not easily knock it over.

Christmas is a magical time of year, and we want to ensure our four-legged friends are just as happy and joyous as us!

We wish you all the very best this Christmas season!

Happy Holidays from Pet Food Australia!

As always please do not hesitate to contact us here or follow along on Facebook, Instagram & Youtube for more tips, tricks, and a couple of paws-atively howl-arious memes.