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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2015 7 By Teri DiMarino-Davidson KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS What has happened to the year? The holidays are upon us again! It seems like only yesterday that I wrote last December's Dear Tabby column. Four Seasons has acquired many new neighbors in this past year and along with new neighbors come new neighborhood pets. We welcome everyone who has come to call Four Seasons home. With that in mind, I am compelled to give my classic holiday advice We all love our pets and want nothing but the best for them. And while the December holidays are usually a cheerful and fun time, the hustle and bustle can sometimes throw our pets into a bit of a tizzy. Pets can get stressed, just like us, and will sometimes react in ways that can surprise or shock their owners. If we can understand the holidays from our pets' point of view, it can make this time of year safer and more enjoyable for everybody. For instance, your pets may not completely understand what that tree is doing in the living room. It is, after all, usually outside. This can be confusing for the boy dogs who are used to using a tree as a toilet ,or cats with a penchant to climb and explore. Your cat may really take to playing with all of those lovely wrapped presents, thinking all of those bows and ribbons are new toys for their own personal enjoyment while the dog is sniffing out every piece of candy or cookie that enters the house. All this, along with an unusually large number of people coming and going, can really send some pets into a stressful dither. To a pet, stress can be defined as anything out of the normal, ordinary routine. Stress can be positive and fun or stress can cause anxiety in a dog or a cat. This change of routine can sometimes make a pet behave differently than they normally do. It can manifest itself as a pet becoming more clingy and needy or send them into total hiding. A well-mannered dog that is normally good around adults may act unfavorably around grandchildren when they come to visit. And to force our pets into situations they are uncomfortable with is only inviting problems. If your pet acts abnormally during this time of year, try your best not to change certain aspects of their routine. Try to maintain consistency with their feeding and walking times. If you are going to introduce new toys, do so one or two at a time. If children do come to visit and you know that your pet does not appreciate the activity, put them in a quiet room away from the crowd so they are not bothered. Nothing will ruin a day of celebration quicker than a negative dog and child incident. The holidays always come with lots and lots of food! We think our pets enjoy the holidays and, in many ways, they do. Seven out of ten people buy holiday gifts for their pets and half of those people actually wrap them! Be sure to monitor any "goodies" they get; being careful that they don't overindulge. Chocolate is a favorite holiday treat for us, but it can be extremely harmful to our pets. Some plants, like Poinsettia, Mistletoe and Holly, are considered toxic to pets and can cause severe digestive upsets and disorientation. Pine needles can play havoc with Fluffy's insides. We also use a lot of extension cords this time of year, so be careful where you place them, as some pets have been known to chew these cords. Many of us keep lit candles which can attract curious pets. There are lovely battery operated ones available that are safe to use around our little friends. And, of course baskets of potpourri smell nice but you don't want your kitty munching on it. I am sure most of you are aware of the pet hazards that lurk in some of our decorations. Tinsel can be especially damaging if ingested and glass ornaments, obviously, come with their own set of cautions. When I decorate my tree I make sure to use plastic ornaments on the lower branches so when my kitties start playing ball, they only get the non-breakable ones. I hope these little holiday tips help make December an easier and more enjoyable time of year for you and your fur-kids!