The Ultimate Christmas Checklist for Pet Care

We woof you a hairy Christmas! The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year! In between shopping, cooking, making a list, and checking it thrice! It’s easy to lose your head. Today, we are giving you the ultimate holiday pet care checklist. You will learn excellent pet safety tips, DIY tutorials for delicious pet treats, and how to make the most of your holidays for you and your best furry friend.

In this blog, find out how to:

• How to pet-proof the home for Christmas
• Pet-friendly decorations for the holidays.
• Pet safety tips
• Tasty DIY pet treats to try
• Pet destress tips during holiday events 
• The best pet toys for furry friends

From decorations to the Christmas tree, there are many ways to pet-proof your holiday home to avoid any pet injuries or emergency clinic trips. 

When choosing the right Christmas tree for pet safety, the best ones are out of your pet’s reach. In a best-case scenario, real trees work best for non-toxicity if ingested in small amounts. If you opt for a real tree, pine and fig trees may cause gastrointestinal irritation or mild toxicity to your cats and dogs. 

Even the synthetic material in plastic trees may cause issues for your pets. Setting up your Christmas tree in a secure zone away from the pet’s reach is the best way to avoid them accidentally swallowing a tree needle. Clean up fallen tree needles daily to minimize the risk of eating. 

Pets love shiny Christmas decorations. 

Some decorations may harm them if they accidentally ingest small or glass pieces. One DIY Christmas hack is using aluminum foil to ward off your pets. Most cats and dogs dislike the sound and texture of aluminum foil. Wrap some foil around the trunk of your tree for pet protection. 

Cats love jumping but hate the smell of citrus and other sweet acidic scents. For extra protection, spray your tree with a mix of water and essential oils. Scents like orange, lemon, and lemongrass are the perfect natural deterrent for your cats. 

The first rule in Christmas decorating is to keep everything high in the sky! Avoid any dangling or easy-to-reach decorations that your pets may gravitate towards. Place ornaments strategically, like more at the top and a few at the bottom. Add a gated barrier for an extra layer of protection. The most harmful Christmas decorations for pets include: 

• Tinsel;
• Glass ornaments; 
• Pointy ornaments;
• Pinecones; 
• Glittery decorations;
• Decorations made from fur or cotton;
• Candy decorations like peppermint sticks; 
• Wrapping ribbon; 
• Wire Christmas lights.

Holidays plants add a cozy atmosphere to the holiday cheer, but some of these plants may be toxic for cats and dogs. Steer clear of these list of plants that are poisonous to pets: 

• Mistletoe: High toxicity. Causing upset stomach, shortness of breath, and seizures.
• Holly: High toxicity. Causes severe illness, vomiting, diarrhea, and hypotension.
• Lilies: Extreme toxicity. Causes intestinal pains and muscle spasms in small amounts.
• Daffodils: High toxicity. Causes kidney disease in cats and dogs. 
• Poinsettia: Low toxicity: The sap excreted from swallowing the plant causes mouth irritation, nausea, and vomiting in high amounts.

We love the sweet aromas of cinnamon, peppermint, and gingerbread filling the home, creating that perfect Christmas feel. But beware canned sprays and synthetic fragrances around your pet. Cats and dogs have a heightened sense of smell, making them sensitive to certain scents. The same goes for essential oils. Below are the most harmful essential oils for your pets: 

• Cinnamon;
• Peppermint;
• Pine Oil;
• Ylang Ylang;
• Citrus Oil.

A few pet-safe oils are: 

• Jasmine oil; 
• Rose oil;
• Chamomile oil; 
• Lavender oil.

Candles, wax melts, and pet-safe room sprays are all pet-safe products that work wonders to keep your home smelling like Christmas for weeks. 

From turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and the oh-so-delicious Christmas cinnamon pie, pets should avoid numerous holiday foods. Ingesting these foods may lead to diarrhea, gastrointestinal inflammation, blood poisoning, high blood pressure, stomach pains, panting, vomiting, and other damaging symptoms. If you’re not sure something is safe for your pet to eat, just avoid it altogether. These are the top holiday foods to avoid feeding your pet: 

• Chocolate;
• Casseroles; 
• Anything with onion or garlic; 
• Caffeine drinks; 
• Seeds, nuts, or grapes; 
• Mushrooms;
• Heavily salted foods;
• Sweets;
• Treats with xylitol (an artificial sweetener).

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or Thanksgiving, these common holiday foods are safe for dogs to try. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your dog any particular food due to potential allergies or sensitivity to certain ingredients. These are several holiday foods to offer your furry friend: 

• Skinless white turkey meat;
• Pure canned pumpkin filling;
• Pure cranberry sauce with no artificial sweeteners;
• Sweet potato;
• Carrots;
• Unsalted mashed potatoes without creams or butter. 

Share the magic of a Christmas meal with your feline friend. This is a list of holiday foods suitable for cats: 

• Plain mashed potatoes without seasonings or creams;
• Pure cranberry sauce with no artificial sweeteners; 
• Pure canned pumpkin filling;
• Steamed unseasoned veggies like green beans; 

Read further for some amusing DIY pet treats for holidays to try at home. 

There’s nothing better than spoiling your best friend with some delicious treats. This year, we are putting a spin on the holidays with some unique do-it-yourself (DIY) bites that your cats and dogs will die for! Read below for some fantastic pet-safe holiday recipes. 

Serving size: 2-3 dozen treats 

Apple and cranberry are two suitable treats for dogs! Follow the recipe below for this delectable doggy treat. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 Cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 Cup cranberries or cranberry puree
• ¼ Cup of oat milk 
• 2 Cups of whole wheat flour 
• 1 tsp of cinnamon

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use wax or parchment paper to line the baking sheet. 
2. Mix mashed or pureed cranberries with apple sauce. Add milk, cinnamon, and flour and mix until combined well. 
3. Roll dough onto a floured surface to prevent sticking. Use a cookie cutter or hand cut small into pieces.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly browned on the sides.
5. Allow to cool down.

Serving size: one dozen cookies 

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil 
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups whole wheat flour 
• 1 cup oats 
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs 

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or hand whisk until uniform. 
2. Use a cookie cutter for hand-cut outs or roll into small balls for baking.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until browned on the sides. 
5. Allow to cool down.

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour 
• 1 cup Tuna: canned or diced
• ½ cup cranberry puree 
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil 
• 1 cup oats 

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and blend until uniform. 
2. Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter or knife to separate it into medium-sized pieces. 
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Allow cooling. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup shredded chicken
• ½ cup sodium-free chicken broth 
• ½ cup oats 
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend until uniform.
2. Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter or knife to separate it into medium-sized pieces. 
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Allow cooling. 

This year, spoil your furry friend with homemade toys they can shake, chew, and enjoy for the season. These save money on costly pet expenses and allow you to bond and do something unique for your cat or dog. Check out 17 DIY Cat Toys Cats Can’t Resist.

At HICC PET, we pride ourselves as a premium pet wellness company. We work to create natural cleansing solutions for pets free of synthetic chemicals or fragrances. Browse our online collection for pet glove wipes, dental cleaning wipes, wound care and anti-itch sprays, and so much more! All pets deserve love and affection this holiday season. Give the gift of care with some organic pet products and grooming materials. Subscribe for our monthly newsletter and pet safety tips your pet can’t live without!