Paws and Celebrate: Pet Holiday Party Tips
The holiday season can be a little overwhelming for your pet. The extra noise, unfamiliar faces, excitement, and changes to their routine can easily cause your furry friend to feel stressed or unsafe. Whether you’re hosting a big holiday party or welcoming houseguests, ensure you plan ahead so your pets stay calm and comfortable. In this blog, we’ll share pet holiday party tips that will protect your four-legged friend from the hustle and bustle and ensure they feel secure and loved this festive season.
Create a pet-safe area
When strangers “invade” your home, your pet will want a safe retreat for when they feel anxious or overwhelmed. Your pet’s quiet haven should include:
- A quiet space — Designate a low-traffic room or area as your pet’s safe zone. This can be a quiet bedroom, a walk-in closet, or your pet’s crate covered by blankets.
- Everything comfy — Provide all your pet’s essentials, including comfy bedding, water, and their favorite toys.
- Calming music — Mask loud chatter and laughter with calming music or white noise.
- Baby gates — Use baby gates to block off busy rooms and prevent your pet from entering high-traffic areas during the holiday gathering.
- Pet pheromones — Use species-specific pheromone diffusers to help keep your pet calm.
- Distractions — Provide a food-puzzle toy to help distract your pet.
Ensure your pet is properly identified
The craziness that comes with the holidays means you can’t pay attention to your pet 24/7, and they can easily sneak out through an unattended door while you are distracted. If your pet is properly identified, you have a much better chance of a reunion should they go missing. Strategies for ensuring your pet’s safety include:
- Microchipping — Microchip your pet and keep your contact information updated in the microchip registry.
- Legible ID — Ensure your pet always wears a collar and identification tags, and ensure the information on the tags is easy to read.
- Pet pictures — Take a current photo of your pet that you can post in your neighborhood should they go missing.
Train your pet for social situations
Training your pet for social situations, especially during holiday parties or when you have houseguests, helps them feel more comfortable and less anxious. Pets who are exposed to new people, environments, and loud noises without proper preparation can become stressed or act unpredictably. Socializing your pet ahead of time helps them to adjust and remain calm and well-behaved. Prepare your pet with:
- Positive reinforcement — Reward calm behavior during new experiences to reinforce good habits.
- Controlled exposure — Begin with one person and then small, manageable groups. Gradually increase your pet’s exposure as they become more comfortable.
- Desensitization — Frequently expose your pet to various sounds, sights, and smells associated with social events. Examples include doorbells and festive music.
- Basic obedience — Ensure your pet is well-versed in commands, such as “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Leave it,” to help ensure good behavior in social situations.
Seek veterinary advice
If your pet continues to be anxious, despite your efforts to keep them calm, you should seek veterinary advice. Signs such as excessive barking, hiding, urinating outside the litter box, and destructive chewing can indicate holiday-related stress. Your veterinarian can ensure your pet has no underlying health issue and recommend treatments, such as calming medications, supplements, or behavior modification techniques, to help alleviate stress. Addressing anxiety early helps ensure your pet’s well-being and safety during the holiday season.
Keeping your pet safe and stress-free during holiday parties is key to ensuring they enjoy the season as much as you do. By following these pet holiday party tips, you can reduce the risk of stress and accidents. Contact your AAHA-accredited veterinarian if you need help ensuring your pet enjoys a stress-free holiday season.