COVID-19 UPDATES REGISTER A PET I HAVE AN EMERGENCY BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Time to Pet-proof Your Festive Plans with The Vet Whetstone

The festive season is upon us in North London, and while you’re busy decking the halls, our team at The Vet Whetstone are reminding you to take time to pet-proof your festive plans.

If you need us in a pet emergency, call 020 8368 9798.

See our emergency and contact info

 

How to pet-proof your festive plans

With a bit of extra care and planning, dogs, cats, rabbits, and small furries can enjoy the season comfortably. Here’s The Vet Whetstone’s guide to keeping your pets happy and safe this December.

1. Decorations and Christmas trees

Christmas trees and twinkling lights are tempting for pets. Our team at The Vet Whetstone suggest that you:

  • Choose a Stable Tree: Securely anchor your tree to prevent curious pets toppling it over.
  • Avoid Tinsel and Ornaments: Tinsel can lead to digestive issues. Use pet-safe (non-chocolate) decorations and keep fragile ornaments out of reach.
  • Secure Cords: Tuck away electrical cords and consider battery-operated lights to prevent chewing.

2. Festive foods

While we enjoy a feast, some festive foods can harm pets. Keep our emergency vet information handy and note:

  • Safe Treats: Offer pet-safe treats like carrots, green beans, or small bits of unseasoned turkey. Cats can enjoy cooked fish or chicken. It’s wise to stick to your rabbit or small furry pet’s usual treats to avoid tummy upsets.
  • Beware of Hazards: Keep chocolate, raisins, onions, grapes, and other toxic foods well out of reach, and secure rubbish bins.

3. Paw-some presents

The Vet Whetstone’s team recommend giving your pets something special this season, like:

  • Toys and Treats: Interactive toys or treat-filled puzzles can keep them entertained while you unwrap gifts.
  • Comfort Items: A new blanket or bed will help your pets feel snug, though they might still prefer their old smelly ones!
  • The Box Might Be the Best Part: Many pets enjoy playing with the empty boxes their gifts come in!

4. Quiet spaces and routine

Amid the festive hustle, our team advise it’s a good idea to provide your pets with a calm retreat:

  • Create a Quiet Zone: Set up a cosy area with their favourite bed and toys for when they need a break. Move rabbits and small furries into a quieter part of your home away from the hustle and bustle.
  • Maintain Routine: Stick to regular feeding and walking schedules to help reduce stress and keep them secure.
  • Extra Bedding: Give rabbits and small furries extra bedding materials they can burrow into to feel calm.

5. Socialising safely

Not all pets are comfortable with large gatherings so the team at The Vet Whetstone recommend that you:

  • Monitor Interactions: Watch how your pets engage with guests; some may need space from excited children.
  • Consider Their Personality: If your pet prefers a quiet spot during gatherings, that’s just their way. See ‘Create a Quiet Zone’ for tips above.

 

Final thoughts: The holiday season is a time for joy, love, and a bit of chaos. With a few simple precautions, you can ensure your pets enjoy the season too. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health or wellbeing during the holidays, reach out to our vet practice in Whetstone.

See our contact and emergency info 

 

Strictly Necessary

These cookies are required for our website to operate and include items such as whether or not to display this pop-up box or your session when logging in to the website. These cookies cannot be disabled.

Performance

We use 3rd party services such as Google Analytics to measure the performance of our website. This helps us tailor the site content to our visitors needs.

Functional

From time to time, we may use cookies to store key pieces of information to make our site easier for you to use. Examples of this are remembering selected form options to speed up future uses of them. These cookies are not necessary for the site to work, but may enhance the browsing experience.

Targeting

We may use advertising services that include tracking beacons to allow us to target our visitors with specific adverts on other platforms such as search or social media. These cookies are not required but may improve the services we offer and promote.

Change Settings

Welcome. You can control how we use cookies and 3rd party services below

Change Settings Accept
Learn how we use cookies