Travel, house guests and loud noises -- all things that are hard to avoid during the holidays, and all things that can stress out to your pets.
Veterinarian Janell Dowling, with Vet 2 Door, says the added stress can lead to your pet biting or scratching your guest, or other animals.
The good news is there are things you can do to make the holidays less stressful for your animals.
Taking your dog to cat to a reputable boarding facility can eliminate the need to travel with your pet. To make their transition to the facility easier, Josh Mclane, owner of the Dogtopia in Westchase, recommends bringing bring a few things with you, to make your dog feel more at home.
”His bed, his favorite toys, his food, favorite treats, maybe some of your clothing so that it has your scent so at night, we put it all in there where they sleep so they’re more comfortable when they’re sleeping,” he said.
Mclane says when you pick your dog up from boarding, don’t be surprised if they seem tired, or lethargic from all the stimulation they were exposed too.
If you want to keep your pet at home, Dowling recommends dedicating a section of the home to your dog or cat,
“There are several things you can do to make the room more comfortable,” said Dowling, "You can turn on the TV, can turn on music so they don’t have to hear any loud noises from outside.”
There’s also treats that help reduce anxiety.
“They don’t have any medication," explained Dowling. “They’re more like a supplement, or almost a vitamin. They can have a calming effect on dogs.”
Other calming tools, like a thunder shirt -- a garment that applies gentle pressure -- can make your dog less anxious, and help you enjoy the holiday.
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