With Christmas just around the corner, you may have discovered a pet of some kind on that wish list that your children keep reminding you about.

At this time of the year, emotions run high and reason takes the back seat. After all, no Christmas wonderland is complete without a fluffy kitten or a soft puppy nestling amongst the packages under the Christmas tree.

Ironically, for every puppy or kitten that finds a loving home for Christmas, there are at least three pets that will lose their home. That cherished bundle of joy your children discovered under the tree is frequently, by next Christmas, transformed into the sofa shredder, a poop machine, or a nuisance that has to be left behind when you are planning that long deserved exotic holiday.

Dogs and cats can certainly enrich our life in so many wonderful ways – however, the decision to extend our family to a four-legged new member should never be taken spontaneously during the emotional high of the festive season.

In fact the increasing number of people surrendering their pets during the Christmas season has become a huge problem in many Western countries.

“Each year, many people don’t plan for boarding kennels over the Christmas holidays and so they abandon their pets to us, and then get another dog the following year,” says Michael Beatty, RSPCA spokesman.

The biggest problem is that the great majority of people don’t understand what they are getting into when they get a pet. Dogs and cats may have been with us since the dawn of civilization – yet we still don't understand that they are creatures with particular psychology and behaviour which often comes across as shocking to people who got used to the singing and dancing animals in Disney films. In fact, most people don’t have the slightest clue about canine or feline behaviour and needs – this inevitably results in traumatic experiences for both humans and animals.

If you are contemplating buying a pet as a present, you first need to make sure it is compatible with its prospective owner. A pet isn’t something you just wrap up in pretty paper and put under the Christmas tree – it’s a living being that demands attention and care.

Introducing a pet into your home should be an event that is as important as getting a new family member. Therefore, you should first learn all that can be learned about behaviour and psychology, as well as nutrition, care and basic grooming for the animal species that you chose as a pet.

Small rodents like hamsters and mice have a very short life expectancy of maximum five years – you should also consider that they may be one to two years old at the time you buy them from the pet shop. All parents should be advised of this when buying these animals as pets for their children in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and traumatic situations.

Christmas is also the time when many dangers to pets lurk around the house. Chocolate and raisins are highly toxic to dogs. Coffee, alcoholic beverages, salt and mouldy food should never be given to dogs, while cooked bones splinter easily and should be avoided.

Everyone will agree that there can be no proper Christmas without a tree, yet this is a waiting hazard for your pets, especially cats and dogs. Fallen Christmas tree needles are very sharp and can easily get stuck in your pet’s paws or throat. Sweep tree needles up regularly or fence off your Christmas tree.

Items such as sparkly tinsel, dangly garlands, sharp glass ornaments and artificial snow can be very dangerous to our pets if ingested. Christmas lights also pose a threat, as they can attract the eye of a curious cat or daring dog, leaving Sparky with a bad burn. To ensure light safety with animals present, make sure to unplug your twinkling lights when not in use, and use pet proof electrical cords. Animals can be injured by cords if they chew on them, so practise turning lights off and using appropriate wiring to avoid burned mouths and electric shock, which can be fatal to your special pet.

Your tree may also be coated with harmful sprays such as fire retardant, fertiliser or insecticide. The needles and branches, which are most accessible to your pet, are toxic carriers of such coatings and can be quite harmful if ingested. For maximum safety, always make sure your pet is not chewing on branches or eating any fallen needles or leaves.

Other safety precautions for keeping your pets safe around your tree are simple and effective. Avoiding food-based decorations and ensuring your tree is on a stable stand are excellent measures to take when pets are running about the home.

Also, always make sure your beloved pet is supervised when in a room with your Christmas tree, and you and your furry friend are sure to have a wonderful holiday.

For more advice on how to take care of your pet, visit www.vetmalta.com 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.