Pets Tips Line

Christmas has arrived again, a time for cheerful pleasure , on the other hand it is also a risky period for both us and our beloved pets. Pet Sitters London have tried to identify their top tips to reduce the dangers to our pets over Xmas. Dog walkers are frequently asked for advice or notice potential dangers to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Xmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This pleasurable activity of decorating the tree with your kids, must be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not crash it down on to the pet. Pets can be put out of joint at Christmas and can become scared and likely to do anything, with the crowds, with all the new smells and sounds. If you can avoid putting the tree too near to furniture that will help the animal leap onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. Some of the water additives for prolonging the life of the tree are dangerous, make sure your pet cannot drink this water.
2. Christmas Decoration Care.
Glass Christmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Dogs that chew these can die. Some of the bright streamers can also be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the intestines.
Take care with using hooks on attaching the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
The electrical wire can be both a dangerous trip hazard and an electrical hazard if pets bite into them. So use cable tidies, to put them out of harms way. Be extra careful if you have a pet that chews and is curious. Keep things turned off if no one in the room, or close the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your dog.
So watch your pet.
Animal behaviour can become variable at Xmas with the new surroundings and people. Pets are protective and can see a reduction in attention, their preferred spot taken over by the Christmas tree as a menace to their home. They are much more likely to change behaviour, cats become scatty and scared, they can even go off their food – even if you are offering them some special Salmon or Turkey. Dogs risk being destructive, if they are not getting their exercise or enough attention and love. A particular risk even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “ out of the ordinary” attacks on kids and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog sitter for a few walks over Christmas, though a good idea to do this early as they are likely to be busy.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
animals. Be especially careful if you have moved their bed to put the tree up and the presents around it. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. A great follow on risk is stomach blockages from the ribbons that they can eat, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
Even at Christmas avoid feeding animals at the table, this habit is very difficult to break as they do not understand why it was OK at Christmas but not now!
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Some food such as onions, which could be in the nice stew or some of the chocolate being handed around. Sugary products can cause dental problems and with thirty – fifty % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, maybe go for a dog walk, he would probably prefer it.
7. Home Safety
A good check of the house is worthwhile, our pet sitters, often identify dangers and pass them onto the owners, such as live candles that would be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Christmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.

So a little thought is a key element of pet care

Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your animals.

Xmas is with us again, a time for gaiety , however it is also a dangerous time for both us and our beloved animals. Pet Sitters London have attempted to list their top tips to minimize the risks to our pets over Christmas. Cat sitters are frequently asked for guidance or notice possible dangers to animals at this time of year. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Christmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This pleasurable activity of putting it up with your children, must be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to the pet. Animals and cats can be disrupted at Christmas and can become worried and liable to do anything, with the crowds, with all the new smells and sounds. Try to avoid putting the tree close to furniture that will help the pet jump onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
Real trees pose a further risk from the pet digesting the pine needles – so hoover them up regularly. Some of the water additives for prolonging the life of the tree are dangerous, ensure your pet cannot drink this water.
2. Care with the Decorations.
The most dangerous to young children and pets are the glass balls, why not buy yourself a safe painted wood or plastic version. Dogs that chew these can die. Some of the bright streamers can also be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the intestines.
Avoid using hooks on fixing the decorations to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
The electrical wire can be both a dangerous trip hazard and an electrical hazard if pets bite into them. So tidy the wires up. Be very careful if you have a dog or cat that chews and is curious. Keep the electric turned off if no one is present, or shut the door.

4. Pet Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your cat.
It is important to have a rational understanding of the reliability of your pets. If in any doubt close the rooms with any potential danger to, or caused by pets.
Pet behaviour can become erratic at Christmas with the new sounds, smells and people. Animals are territorial and can see a reduction in attention, their favourite spot taken by the tree and presents as a menace to their quarters. They are then more liable to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they can even go off their food – even if you are giving them some nice Salmon or Turkey. Dogs risk being destructive, if they do not have enough exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular risk even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “ bizarre” attacks on children and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few sessions over Christmas, though you may need to do this early as they are often busy doing pet sitting at Christmas.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
animals. Be extremely careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. It is not unknown for dogs to take it out on the presents. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Care with Christmas Food
Even at Xmas avoid feeding animals at the table, this habit is very difficult to break as they do not understand why it was OK at Christmas but not now!
Some Christmas items are particularly dangerous, especially the Holly. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause dental problems and with thirty – fiftypercent of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For both of you, maybe go for a dog walk, he would most likely prefer it.
7. Home Safety
A good check of the house is worthwhile, our pet sitters, often notice risks and pass them onto the owners, such as live candles that could be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Christmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.