Keep Your Dog Stress-Free This Holiday Season
The holidays are a busy, and often stressful, time. A change in schedules, visitors, and traveling can disrupt your routine. And these changes not only affect your stress, they can affect your dog's anxiety too. How can you take steps to keep your pet happy and stress-free this holiday season?
Maintain A Schedule
Even though the holidays are hectic, it’s best to keep a normal schedule.
That means going to bed and waking up at the same time. Maintain a similar exercise routine. Keep the same feeding time.
By keeping the same schedules, your pet isn’t wondering if you forgot about them.
Find The Normal When Guests Visit
As fun as it is to meet new people, having a lot of visitors can increase stress for your pet. New faces and loud voices can be overwhelming and confuse your pet.
If your pet isn’t comfortable with several guests in the house, it may be best to keep your pet in a quiet space. Putting a kennel or bed in a smaller room may ease anxiety.
The addition of sound soothers can create a welcome distraction from noisy visitors. Sound soothers play a calming song on repeat which can help to relax your pup. (I’ve had very good results with these).
Supplements like CBD, L-theanine, and melatonin can also help to keep your pup calm. But if starting a supplement, it’s a good idea to trial before the stressful event so you know if it works for your pet.
Essential oils can also help. Scents like lavender or citrus can calm your anxious pup. But be cautious with these. Use high-quality oils that are safe for pets.
NOTE: Cheap oils can have toxic ingredients that can harm your pet. Do your research before buying.
Thunder Shirts can also help to relieve stress. The shirt swaddles your dog and evokes a feeling of calmness.
Keep The Same Diet
While the holidays have a lot of special treats, it’s best to avoid feeding new ingredients to your dog. Keeping a regular diet will prevent illness.
As tempting as it is, resist the urge to feed "more" food to your pet. Limit treats and keep meal sizes the same. This will reduce gas, bloating, and malaise during the holidays.
While the holidays are a busy time, it’s best to keep things as normal as possible for your pet. This will ensure a happy, safe, and stress-free season for you and your pet.
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