Pet Health

from Laurel of Northeast Georgia December 22

Destress the Holidays

Healthy and Well Making Christmas Safe for Pets

By Jaime Smoot Speed

The winter holidays are a fantastic time of year for people and pets! I wanted to talk about some Christmas traditions to enjoy with your pets and how to keep them safe doing so! Christmas tree decorating is definitely at the top of the list, especially for cats! Cats love to play in the paper we wrap ornaments in or follow the flashing lights in the trees. We do recommend staying away from loose tinsel and trying to discourage your pets from climbing the tree. Some ways to redirect their attention are motorized toys or feeding puzzles. Also consider decorating the tree with unbreakable ornaments and using an anchor to tie the top of the tree to avoid tipping. Next is visiting SantaPaws! It's a great opportunity to get a cute picture of your pet and oftentimes SantaPaws pictures are done to raise money for charities. And don’t forget to include these pet pictures in your holiday cards! Walking in the winter is also a great experience. They don’t get overheated as easily and some pet’s fur coats are meant for the winter! Pets also love snow if you're lucky to live in an area that has it! Just protect your pet with warm clothing, make sure you dry them thoroughly, and if they are going to be in the snow for longer periods of time, make sure you get them snow booties! If cooking treats is part of your normal traditions, don’t forget your pets! There are lots of dog and cat friendly recipes you can find online, and there are often pet-centered treat molds at your local pet stores. Finally, most pets enjoy the wrapping and unwrapping of presents! Just make sure they are supervised and do not ingest the wrapping material. Consider getting them their own stocking too! They love the attention they get when treats come out of the stocking! And most important of all, do not forget your local rescues. Oftentimes they do not have full staff over the holidays, so bring a friend and volunteer to walk dogs or clean cages to give back to the community and our furry friends. Get your pet ready for the holidays at your local pet store Clayton Claws & Paws!

Jaime Smoot Speed was born in West Virginia, went to James Madison University with a BS in molecular biology, then worked at Johns Hopkins doing research until attending UGA for Vet School. She graduated 2010 and moved to Clayton with her husband who is a native five years ago. She works part time at Rabun Animal Hospital. She opened Claws & Paws in December 2020. You can reach Claws & Paws at 706-212-7322 or visit their website: claytonpawsandclaws.com or on facebook and instagram: @claytonclawsandpaws

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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