By MATT PIKE
People will be traveling for the holidays to be with family, and many may be bringing their pets along with them to join in the family fun.
Melanie Barnes with Friends of the Animal Shelter says if you are taking your pet along on your holiday trips, keep them safe, especially if going to a place with an unfamiliar animal.
Barnes says there are no for sure tips on introducing pets to each other, because each pet is different, but says there are some ways you can help them acclimate
“If you can plan ahead of time, and like have them share things to share the smell, that’s really nice,” Barnes says on the KFEQmunnity show. “So like a week ahead of time if there’s a special toy or a blanket that your pet lays on all the time, or a small bed, and you can swap those so they kind of get used to those smells that’s always a really nice thing to do in advance so it’s not so shocking.”
Barnes says when introducing your pet to another pet they may not know, it’s best to keep them on a leash so you can pull them away if they begin to go at each other.
“Don’t ever try and reach in between them, that’s when bad things happen,” Barnes explains. “I know it’s natural, people want to stop it, maybe pick their pet up, things like that, but if they’re really not getting along then use the leashes and pull them apart, do it in a safe area, don’t do it in the middle of your dining room or where the dishes are or something like that.”
Barnes says be sure to watch your pets for any signs of aggression such as hair standing up or a posture that shows things may be going too fast and says sometimes it’s best to take things slow.
Barnes says an unexpected vet bill could be the las thing you want to spoil your holiday, so keep an eye on your pets and protect them. Barnes says especially to protect them around that holiday food
“We certainly also don’t want a trip to the vet because we’ve either accidentally eaten something that’s caused severe GI upset, or maybe even toxicity, or even potentially a foreign body,” Barnes says. “And you need to be cognoscente, not only of the food you put on your table and the food you put in the trash, but your decorations, your Christmas things around, a lot of people like to dress their pets up.”
Barnes says to make sure those outfits you might put your pets in for the holidays fit well and don’t choke your pets or could end up having things falling off and getting eaten making the dog or cat sick.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
