With Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more holidays coming our way, we need to get ready for holiday gatherings where our dogs may be present. Considering how many things can be bad for our dogs and cats, it makes sense that we need to pay attention to what we are doing when hosting a dinner or gathering.
Every year, we try to remind ourselves about what we need to watch out for when it comes to the holidays and our pets. And this year, thanks to Scout & Zoe’s, we have some fresh tips for dog-friendly holiday gatherings.
Obviously, these tips are things we all pretty much know already. However, we will never ignore these reminders, especially when it comes to keeping our dogs and cats safe.
5 tips for dog-friendly holiday gatherings
- Food scraps should not be fed to our dogs. As Scout & Zoe’s CEO Cindy Dunston Quirk shared, “Items like onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, and foods high in fat can be harmful.”
- Be mindful of your trash as dogs can be tempted by the goodies we throw away. “Packaging, plastic, and other non-edible items can be covered in food waste, enticing your dog into eating it. Ensure your dog can’t get at the trash so they don’t ingest something dangerous or cause a mess.”
- Make sure your dog has space for themselves. With a lot of people in your home, having a safe space for your pup is important because it lets them get away from the hustle and bustle. Remember that your dog has their own boundaries and they should be respected by any guests in your home.
- Be careful with alcohol around your pet. Alcohol can be toxic to dogs and cats and spilled alcohol is something you should clean up quickly. Make sure that cups are tossed out and when guests are using them, make sure that they are out of the reach of your furry friends.
- Be careful if your dog or cat is a known escape artist. If you know that your pup is likely to slip out of the door as people are coming or going, pay attention and if necessary keep them away from the door. And just in case it does happen, make sure that your pet has identification on them (think collars with tags on both cats and dogs).
Honestly, holiday gatherings can be stressful for a lot of reasons. But the last thing we want is to see our pets getting stressed out, sick, or worse because of them. Hopefully these tips help to remind us all of ways we can reduce at least a little bit of the stress on our plates.