Some friendly New Year's Eve and Day Reminders for those with pets at home
photo courtesy of spca.bc.ca
1. Don't bring your pets to the fireworks and firecracker displays. More than the eyeful that they are going to get, dogs have more than twice the sensitivity to human hearing--imagine all that noise amplified at least twice!
2. Keep their collars and dog tags on at all times - make sure your contact details are visible on the tag and the collar is secure.
3. Give your dog lots of exercise so it would rather sleep through the festivities than stress over it. SPECIFICALLY, exercise, water, and potty your dog an hour or so before the festivities start.
4. On New Year's Eve, keep your pets in a safe and secure room, where it can't get out, and people are not going into. Give them a bed and blanket to burrow into. Close the windows so the noise is muffled and they can't get out, just leave enough open for ventilation. Play relaxing music. Turn on the air conditioner if that is an option. KEEP THAT DOOR CLOSED.
5. KEEP YOUR HOME/PROPERTY SECURE. Check your fence to make sure your pets cannot escape, and keep your gate and front door closed. Many dogs escape, run away in fear, and get lost on New Year's Eve.
6. NO WATUSI IN THE HOUSE. The pets might lick them off the floor and the explosive material in it is fatal if ingested. In fact, keep all those explosives inaccessible to your pets.
7. Anti-stress aids that work:
- Thundershirts (very snug body wraps for pets) are available at BetterDog, Bow and Wow and online
- Pet Naturals Calming Chews, Bach Flowers Remedy, Homeopet Anxiety Relief available at pet stores
- DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)
There are sure to be many others so you may want to check with your vet.
8. Don't excessively cuddle or baby your pet when it is stressing out - this can lead to your pet becoming overly dependent on you every time it hears the loud sound. Give it a safe and comfortable place to settle and burrow into.
9. Keep the garbage securely covered so the pets don't get to them.
10. Keep Dangerous Food away from your pets. Read the Dangerous Food list on the WebMD posted at http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
2. Keep their collars and dog tags on at all times - make sure your contact details are visible on the tag and the collar is secure.
3. Give your dog lots of exercise so it would rather sleep through the festivities than stress over it. SPECIFICALLY, exercise, water, and potty your dog an hour or so before the festivities start.
4. On New Year's Eve, keep your pets in a safe and secure room, where it can't get out, and people are not going into. Give them a bed and blanket to burrow into. Close the windows so the noise is muffled and they can't get out, just leave enough open for ventilation. Play relaxing music. Turn on the air conditioner if that is an option. KEEP THAT DOOR CLOSED.
5. KEEP YOUR HOME/PROPERTY SECURE. Check your fence to make sure your pets cannot escape, and keep your gate and front door closed. Many dogs escape, run away in fear, and get lost on New Year's Eve.
6. NO WATUSI IN THE HOUSE. The pets might lick them off the floor and the explosive material in it is fatal if ingested. In fact, keep all those explosives inaccessible to your pets.
7. Anti-stress aids that work:
- Thundershirts (very snug body wraps for pets) are available at BetterDog, Bow and Wow and online
- Pet Naturals Calming Chews, Bach Flowers Remedy, Homeopet Anxiety Relief available at pet stores
- DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)
There are sure to be many others so you may want to check with your vet.
8. Don't excessively cuddle or baby your pet when it is stressing out - this can lead to your pet becoming overly dependent on you every time it hears the loud sound. Give it a safe and comfortable place to settle and burrow into.
9. Keep the garbage securely covered so the pets don't get to them.
10. Keep Dangerous Food away from your pets. Read the Dangerous Food list on the WebMD posted at http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
