Home for the Holidays: Pet Comfort

With the holiday season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to keep your fur family as happy as you are during this festive time. Pets of different kinds will react to travel, visitors, noise, and schedule disruptions in different ways. Here are a few ways to help keep your pets comfy this season.

If you’re staying home for the holidays, you’ll want to make sure your pets are considered if you plan to have guests.

When planning holiday gatherings, make sure your pet has a safe, quiet space in which they can relax while the party is happening. If possible, dedicate a room that is away from the noise and is off-limits to guests. If you do not have a spare room in which your pets can stay for a few hours during the festivities, provide a crate or other secure, comfortable option. This will keep your pets and your guests safe, as pets can become excited or scared when in a crowd and may behave unusually. If you plan to allow your pets roam freely during a holiday gathering, you should notify your guests. That way, anyone with allergies or other issues will be aware of the pet’s presence, and it will help ensure no one “lets the dogs out” when entering or exiting your home.

If guests will be staying with you, likewise make sure they know before they arrive that you have a pet and what kind. Allergies to pet dander can range from mild to serious, and you’d hate to have an unhappy house guest! By sharing the information in advance, you take the burden off of your guest to inquire about pets in your home.

If you live in a cold climate, do not leave your pets outside for long periods of time, even if this seems like a simple solution when you have company. Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia in cold temperatures. We’re lucky in South Carolina to have fairly mild winters, but it does still get cold enough here to be concerned about pet exposure to colder weather.

What if a guest wants to bring their pet along for the fun? This is definitely something to discuss beforehand! If your pets and theirs already know one another and get along well, it may be fine. However, the holidays bring a lot of change and upheaval. Some pets, if stressed, may not react well to sharing their space. You may not have room to host a very large animal, or maybe your area is not conducive to walking a dog easily. Talk to your guests about any limitations in your home, expectations and responsibilities, veterinary needs, and other logistics before agreeing to hosting their fur friends.

If you’re planning to travel for the holidays, you need a pet plan in place, especially if you have a new pet or maybe an older pet who no longer travels easily. You know your pet best, so it’s important to decide if taking them with you is best for them. Even if you’d miss them or be worried about them while you’re away, leaving your pet at home with a sitter or boarding your animal may be the best option.

Cats often fare better if they can remain at home with a pet sitter checking in on them. A young, untrained puppy or older, infirm dog might do best if boarded or left with a house sitter. While pet sitting or boarding can seem like a large expense, it is worth it to have a professional caring for your animals. Sometimes, a trusted family member or close friend is the best person to look after your animals, if they are available and do not have holiday travel plans of their own. Only take your pets with you when you can ensure their comfort, safety, and welcome at your destination.

New technology can make being away from your pets a little easier, and it may give you some peace of mind when employing a sitter. Indoor streaming cameras are not very expensive, and they allow you to check on your pets at any time of day. Some even offer the ability for you to speak to your pets through the camera. WiFi connected smoke alarms and security systems are also available. Battery-operated auto-feeders can provide timed meals and portion control. All of these technologies make your pet’s staycation easy to manage, but they will not replace human interaction and access to sanitation and exercise. It’s still a great idea to hire a sitter.

These tips and ideas will help you put your pets first when you’re planning your holiday celebrations, whether you plan to be home or away from home.

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