Season’s Greetings! One of the best things about the holidays is watching how much fun children have at this time of year. We also love seeing adorable pictures of kids and pets! However, it’s important to remember that kids and pets speak different languages. You’ll want to take a few precautions to help everything go smoothly over the holidays. In this article from Westside Animal Hospital, a Savannah, GA vet discusses spending the holidays with kids and pets.

Supervision

First and foremost, supervise all interactions between pets and children. This is especially crucial with very young kids, as they may inadvertently do something that will upset or frighten your furry friend. More than one toddler has learned the hard way that Fluffy’s tail isn’t a toy!

Safe Setup

As the saying says, an ounce of prevention can be worth several pounds of cure. This is definitely true here! The good news is that petproofing and childproofing are very similar. In both cases, you’ll need to remove anything that could be a choking or poisoning hazard. That means anything small, sharp, or very breakable, such as jewelry, batteries, small ornaments, and many toys. Other things to address include candles, toxic plants, plastic films and wrappers, ribbons, garlands, lights, tinsel, and wires and cords. Ask your vet for more information.

Dinner Etiquette

Meals can be a cause of friction for both pets and kids. Many children don’t understand that Fido and Fluffy can’t eat everything we do, and may try to share their snacks with them. That can be very dangerous! You may want to keep your pet in another area during dinner, just to be safe.

Playtime

One of the best things you can do is wear your furry buddy out. After a vigorous play session, pets tend to be quite tired, which naturally calms them down.

Toys

It’s also important to avoid friction over toys. Your canine pal may get a bit rattled if he notices his tiny human playing with a stuffed animal he wants for himself! A toddler may also reach for a dog’s toys, which may not go over well with Fido.

Photos

Don’t forget to snap some cute photos! Pets can be wonderful playmates, cuddle buddies, and friends for kids. Treasure those moments, and preserve them. Happy Holidays from Westside Animal Hospital, your local Savannah, GA animal clinic. Call us anytime!