‘Tis the 2022 holiday season! With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa around the corner, it's time for people to get ready for the holidays with their furry friends. It’s the most wonderful time of the year and being able to spend time with family, friends, and furry pals is a great way to end the 2022 year and ring in the next.
The holiday season can be stressful for some people because of traveling, hosting, cooking, and wanting to set up the perfect decorations. If you have pets, then it's an additional piece to the puzzle that you have to think about when planning your holiday schedule. When you have a pet, you want to ensure they will be comfortable and merry all season long.
Meeting new people, traveling, eating amazing food, and gift-giving are all fun parts of the holiday season. This can be a new experience for your four-legged friend, so follow these tips and tricks to make sure your pet is as ready for the holiday season as you are!
Travel Tips to Remember
Traveling is stressful, especially during the holiday season. Arriving at the airport hours before a flight, having that anxious feeling that you forgot to pack something, and getting your dog and/or cat’s belongings together can be nerve-racking. You don’t want to forget any of their essential items, but you also don’t want to over-pack. Having peace of mind when traveling is hard, but these tips can help you find it!
Whether you are a first-time pet parent traveling with your furry friend or well-versed in pet traveling, you will want to know some helpful tips when holiday traveling with pets. Prior to traveling, you may want to look into microchipping your pet or having a collar ID that has a GPS in it. This is just in case your four-legged companion gets separated or lost. It's unsettling to think about your pet wandering off, but it’s better to be prepared.
Creating a safe and comfortable environment for your pet when traveling is crucial. Bringing a blanket or toy they know from home can make a big difference in their mood. If you are traveling in a car, a few days before the trip you should bring your pet in the crate and take them for small drives to get them familiar with the space. Along with creating a safe space for your four-legged friend you will want to bring treats, food, and water for them. Be sure to stop every few hours so you and your furry companion can stretch those legs.
Likewise, you always want to be prepared for injuries and illnesses that could happen to your pet when away. When traveling with a pet you should definitely look into how pet insurance works. It’s an excellent way to keep your pet's health in the back of your mind so you can focus on holiday festivities and being present. The last thing you want to happen when you are far away from home is an injury. Having pet insurance will ensure that your furry friend is protected and give you one less thing to worry about.
A final travel tip is to stay in pet-friendly places. This may be overlooked at times but being in a safe pet-friendly place can bring you and your four-legged friend peace of mind. Whether staying in a hotel, a relative's house, or an AirBnB, talk to the host to ensure having a pet there is okay and that they will be accommodating. After having a long day of traveling you want to kick your feet (or paws) up and relax.
Help Your Pets Meet New People
The holiday season can bring new people into your home and into your furry friend’s life. Whether you are traveling or staying close to home your pet is bound to encounter a lot of new people and new smells. Helping them through this a few days before traveling and having company over will better prepare both of you for the holiday season. Assisting your four-legged friend when meeting new people can allow you to not have to worry about them having a negative reaction.
When you decide to host people at your home, it's more of a controlled environment for you to help your dog or cat get accustomed to having new people in their home. In your home, your pet could retreat back to their safe space or isolate themselves if they feel overwhelmed, which would be ideal. If you are hosting the holidays, you may want to keep your pet by the door to greet people with you and take in all the new smells. You could also teach your dog fun tricks to impress your guests. Your furry friend is a part of your family, so helping your pet meet new people will ensure they can be included in all the holiday fun!
If you are traveling with your pet, then getting familiar with an environment may become a more challenging task to do. Having your pet be comfortable around new people will include trying to keep them happy and healthy. Giving them treats and positive affirmations will show them they are doing well with the many adjustments. This will help your four-legged friend feel comfortable meeting new people during the holiday season.
Foods That Are Pet-Friendly
Let’s be honest, the best part of the holiday season is the food! What is better than tasting your favorite dishes while spending time with your loved ones? When bringing your pet to family gatherings you may have a fear of people feeding them food or your pet getting into some of the leftovers. You might not even know what holiday foods are safe for pets to eat and which ones can be extremely dangerous.
You should become aware of the human foods that are toxic to your pet. Foods such as chocolate, caffeine, and coffee are toxic for your four-legged friend to digest. You shouldn’t throw any bones and raw meat to your dogs or cats when you are eating or cooking. Of course, food does fall on the floor but have precautions because these can be very harmful to your pet's health.
Common foods you will find that are okay to give your pet during your holiday meals include cooked turkey meat, plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling), apples, and carrots as well. Your pet can also eat broccoli, bananas, and sweet potatoes. These are common things you will find in your holiday dishes that are safe for your furry friend to indulge in. If your pet also has a sweet tooth they can also have peanut butter. Stay away from sugary and rich, fatty foods. Make sure to not overdo it and bring the intended food for them that will provide them with nutrition and help them keep up with the long holidays.
Gifts To Get Your Pet
No holiday would be complete without gift-giving. No matter if it's surprising your family after not being together for a year or going out and buying something special for your loved ones, gift-giving is a part of the holiday season. It allows you to express love to those closest to you. You may want to include your furry friend in this year's gift-giving.
For your dog, you may want to gift them a new bed or an adorable chew toy. You may want to figure out what is the best holiday gift to get your dog. In all honesty, there is no perfect gift for your pet. It will depend on your dog’s personality and what they enjoy doing that will determine which is the best one. If your furry friend loves to go outside and stay active, then you may want to look into frisbees and a brand-new leash. If your dog is on the mellow side, then they would surely enjoy a comfy new bed and a doggy puzzle toy.
A gift you will get to have as a pet parent is getting to dress them up in pet clothes. Being able to dress your pet in matching outfits with the family is another way to include them in all the holiday fun. As a pet parent, go ahead and gift yourself cute outfits for your furry friend and take some cute pictures of them to keep because who doesn’t love that?
The holiday season is something joyful and enjoyable. Try not to stress out over traveling, introducing your pet to new people, getting the perfect gift, and feeding your furry friend toxic foods. Being able to get your pets ready and safe for the holidays will allow you to maximize the joy. Make sure to enjoy the 2022 holiday season with your family and furry companions!
