Let’s face it: Our pets are just as much a part of the holiday celebrations as our friends and family. As such, you’ll want to consider a few of these friendly reminders for their personal safety during the winter months.
As far as interior concerns go, pets may develop a keen interest in things like Christmas trees, wrapped gifts, or decorations. I particularly remember my cat eating through a box once just because it was there. It’s almost as if he relished in the personal challenge.
All things considered, my biggest worries are on the hooked ornaments, and I specifically make sure all are firmly attached to the tree. The last thing I want is for a rogue hook to make its way down to the ground where my cat or dog might decide to explore a bit more.
Then, there’s the outdoors.
First off, and this applies to both you and your pet, black ice is no joke. If you walk your dog at night, then hopefully you already have a flashlight and reflective clothing on hand. However, even with those safety measures, black ice can still be a legitimate concern. Keep an eye out with every step, especially when crossing over walkways and street corners, and if possible, try and wear winter boots or work boots while walking your best.
Ice can be exceptionally painful for your pet to walk on as well. Just imagine walking barefoot in the dead of winter across snow and ice. If you do walk your pet, try and keep it short and sweet. I specifically shovel a path in the backyard (when there’s snow) for my dog to stick to. If I take him out to do his business after the sun goes down, we stick strictly to the sidewalks and try to stay within a one-block radius of our home.
Finally, you’ll want to consider salt on the roads. Similar to ice, salt can be painful and damaging to a dog’s paws. Unless you’re going to put shoes on your pup (my little guy manages to get by on short walks with them), try and avoid walking over salty walkways and sidewalks with your dog. As a final step, try and keep a towel handy when you get home to dry off and wipe away any salt from their paws before letting them loose back in the home.