Tis the season to start decking the halls and gathering with the family members that you haven’t seen in quite some time. While you may be able to pick right up where you left off with Aunt Debbie, the same may not be true for your pets. Changes in your routine can affect your pets more than you realize. Make sure to set aside time before all the hustle and bustle of the season takes over, and prep your pet for the upcoming holidays with these 6 Ways to Prepare your Pets for the Holidays:

Brush up on Training and People Skills

When your visitors come knocking you don’t want your dog barking. Spending some extra time with your pet prior to guests joining you for the holidays is critical to make sure not only your pets are comfortable but your visitors are as well. Reinforcing training skills that you may be more lax on throughout the rest of the year will ensure that your gatherings are successful. Not only that, but the extra time with your pet prior to all of the holiday cheer will help strengthen your connection with them.

Schedule Grooming and Vet Appointments EARLY

As you know, the holiday season is a busy time of the year for a lot of businesses. Keep this in mind if you have a pet that is in need of a spa day. Grooming salons can have extremely hectic schedules, and you don’t want to have your pet miss out on seeing their favorite groomer before the holidays. Call ahead! Get on the books for Fido’s next appointment. 

The same goes for Veterinary offices, there is currently a national shortage of veterinary staff, which limits a lot of availability for appointments. If your pet is in need of updated vaccinations, CALL NOW, and get scheduled. Remember, a sick pet cannot be predicted, but you know the date of when your vaccinations need to be updated. Leave the last minute appointment for those who really need them because of an unpredicted injury or illness. One of the best gifts you can give the veterinary industry right now is planning ahead when you can.  

Pet Safe Foods

The hardest thing to ignore is sweet pleading eyes from the most adorable pup when you are preparing or eating your holiday meals. However, this is not the time to lose your sense of what your pet can and cannot consume. Food such as poultry bones, turkey skin and fat, chocolate, onions, garlic, and chives can be dangerous for pets to consume and can result in an unexpected trip to the emergency room. Be safe and limit the table scraps you give to your furry family members, and double check if the food they are eyeing is pet friendly. 

For anything consumption you are unsure about that has occurred you can contact Pet Poison Helpline® at 855-764-7661.  

Is Santa Paws Coming to your House?

Just like people, pets deserve a little reminder of how much you adore them occasionally too! Not only would they appreciate their favorite treat for greeting Uncle Andy politely, but a new toy or puzzle is a great way to keep them occupied and out from under everyone’s feet. Not big on toys or have dietary restrictions? iCalmPet’s newest Ruff ‘n Ready speaker will be a great addition to your pet’s toy box for a calm and relaxing holiday season.  

A Blue Christmas? Fur-get about it!

Whether you are wishing for a white Christmas, or have to travel and leave your pet with a sitter, you can beat the winter blues with iCalmPet music. With a wide range of calming and speciality music for dogs, cats, and people, iCalmPet provides your household with the gold standard of pet music. Cat Calming and Calm Your Canine are the perfect addition to a house that will be receiving visitors to provide a calm ambiance for both pets and humans alike. We also can’t forget about Separation Anxiety for the pets that may be left at home with a sitter or a boarding facility while their parents travel. Prepare them early for your absence by introducing them to our Separation Anxiety album weeks before you head out for the holidays.

With these 6 Ways to Prepare your Pets for the Holidays, we at iCalmPet hope that your holiday season will not only be jolly and bright, but calm and peaceful as well! 

Happy Holidays from your iCalmPet family!