The holiday season is here. If you’re hosting friends and family, you may be prepping food or planning seating arrangements, but have you considered prepping your pets?
Veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists Kelly Fishman joined GBH’s Morning Edition to discuss how to manage pet behavior during holiday gatherings, and even incorporate them into the festivities.
How can you help your pets remain calm during holiday gatherings?
Fishman says with the chaos of new people and sometimes new animals in the home, you can make things easier for your furry friend by setting up a crate or a separate room for them to retreat to.
“Allowing your dog or cat to kind of sequester themselves or take their own personal space is really important,” she said.
Fishman said you can also support your pets by educating guests — especially young children — about how to interact with your pet.
“Not everybody comes from [a home with] an animal like a dog or a cat, and it’s certainly not their dog or cat that they have at home,” Fishman said. “So if you have a dog or cat that’s not used to kids, just taking a little bit of time with that child to show them how to interact safely and calmly with your own animal.”
Watch your pet’s body language for signs of stress
Fishman says cat and dog owners should be aware of certain body postures that indicate stress.
Cats will adopt a more hunched back. They’ll also change their ear position.
“When cats get a little bit stressed out, they go from that forward, calm ear position, and instead what you’ll see is their ears will kind of go out to the side or back behind them,” Fishman said.
For dogs, changes in ear position also can indicate stress, along with changes in their eye pupils, known as “whale eyes.”
“When [dogs] start to look very stressed out, the whites of their eyes start to show,” Fishman explained.
Build exercise into your holiday routine
If you have a dog that likes to jump on people, or a cat that has the zoomies, Fishman said it’s highly important to maintain commitment and consistency with a play or walk routine during the holidays.
“Exercise is a great way to kind of manage a lot of these behavior issues,” she said. “If you have the ability to take your dog on a long walk or do a lot of activity the morning of [a gathering] before everybody gets there, and just burn out some of that like nervous energy that they may have later.”
Fishman said more movement and quality time is the best gift you can give to your pets during the holidays.
“It keeps them strong, it keeps their joints moving, it keeps them lean,” she said. “I know a lot of dogs gain weight, just like us in the winter, because no one’s moving as much. So keeping them moving is very important.”
Know which foods you can share safely
Foods from the holiday plate that are safe for pets to eat include meats like plain chicken and turkey, and even some side dishes like pumpkin.
But Fishman said to be mindful of what else is in a dish before you share it. Cooked bones may splinter when chewed, and common ingredients like garlic and onions are toxic to pets. Even foods like gravy can cause distress on a pet’s small body.
“Other things may not be toxic, but are very fatty and can cause a lot of upset stomach as well,” Fishman said.
One recommendation is to mix together pumpkin, turkey and some plain yogurt for your pet. Fishman said you can freeze it in a toy or lick mat, which will also provide mental stimulation and distraction.
“Pumpkin is a great thing to share with your dog, maybe your cat would eat it,” Fishman said. “My cat actually likes the marshmallows on top of the cooked pumpkin dish that some people make. Just sharing everything in moderation, and not giving too much food.”
