{"id":379,"date":"2019-12-09T23:11:58","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T23:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=379"},"modified":"2019-12-09T23:11:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T23:11:58","slug":"december-2019-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/december-2019-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2019 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Benefits of Food Puzzles for Pets<\/a>
\nGreat Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with Your Pets<\/a>
\nHow to Keep Your Cat Safe from Holiday Decorations<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>The Benefits of Food Puzzles for Pets<\/strong>
\nFood puzzles can be great ways to help dogs and cats have something to do when it comes to eating along with other great benefits.<\/p>\n

Domesticated dogs and cats are like their wild counterparts in that they have a \u201cneed to forage for their food,\u201d according to the article, \u201cFood Puzzles for Pets,\u201d at Best Friends. \u201cJust like people, non-human animals need to have tasks that involve both mental and physical engagement in order to feel fulfilled, confident and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Food puzzles or foraging toys are an easy way to provide your pet with a job that helps with their physical and mental health. \u201cFood puzzles are also great for pets who wolf down their meals because the animal must eat more slowly and, therefore, can savor the food a bit more,\u201d the article said.<\/p>\n

According to the article: <\/p>\n

\u2022\tBecause animals aren\u2019t born with foraging skills, you can guide and teach them.
\n\u2022\tAll animals are different and learn at varying speeds.
\n\u2022\tFood puzzles are different just like your pet. Find the one your pet likes best.<\/p>\n

There are a variety of reasons to buy a food puzzle for your dog because \u201cthey provide a wealth of benefits for both you and your pup,\u201d according to the article, \u201cChoosing the Best Interactive Toys and Food Puzzles For Your Dog\u201d at Preventive Vet.<\/p>\n

Some benefits include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tCertain types are great for teething puppies.
\n\u2022\tSome puzzles are perfect for fast eaters. Slowing your dog down can help prevent GDVBloat.
\n\u2022\tGreat for picky eaters who have a desire to hunt for food.
\n\u2022\tYou get a break because your dog is occupied.<\/p>\n

Toy puzzles are also great for humans. You will get a chance to help your dog learn the puzzle and watch him enjoy hunting and foraging for his food.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Great Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with Your Pets<\/strong>
\nDecember means it\u2019s holiday season. Who doesn\u2019t love the magic in the air, the twinkling of the holiday lights and beautiful decorations, and a great dog or cat sweater? Celebrating means family, and that means your pets, too. <\/p>\n

There are so many great ways to celebrate with your pets to get everyone in the spirit. <\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cWhy Cats and Dogs Are Excited for Christmas,\u201d at Vetstreet.com, our pets might just know it\u2019s the holidays for the following reasons:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tSnow! Depending where you live or if you\u2019re traveling to colder weather areas, certain dog breeds will love a chance to romp in the snow.
\n\u2022\tShipments of gifts mean boxes everywhere, making your cat very happy.
\n\u2022\tThe holidays mean more attention for your beloved pets.
\n\u2022\tGifts: Everyone loves them, even your pets.
\n\u2022\tFamily quality time, which makes the holiday extra special for pets.<\/p>\n

There can be a lot of added stress during the holidays. \u201cThat\u2019s why planning ahead with a few dog-friendly activities can be good for both you and your dog,\u201d according to the article, \u201c10 Ways To Celebrate Christmas With Your Fur Babies,\u201d at iheartdogs.com. <\/p>\n

Check out some of these fun ideas for you and your pet:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tTake your dog along for a car ride to check out the beautiful holiday lights in the neighborhood.
\n\u2022\tBake pet-friendly holiday treats.
\n\u2022\tPlace a holiday-themed bow on your pet\u2019s collar.
\n\u2022\tGet the entire family together for a holiday photo shoot.<\/p>\n

Always include your pet in the festivities. Remember to keep your pet away from electrical cords, foods that can be harmful, and too much noise. If your pet gets stressed, be sure your pet has a quiet place to take it easy and get away from the noise. Keep everyone happy and stress free during this time of year.<\/p>\n

<\/a>How to Keep Your Cat Safe from Holiday Decorations<\/strong>
\nHoliday time means decorations and lights. Many cats love to get into things, such as Christmas trees and tinsel. The last thing you want is for your cat to have an accident due to a safety hazard. <\/p>\n

The most obvious potential hazard is the Christmas tree. Cats seems to love to get into them and sometimes like to mark them. According to the article, \u201cHow to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree (Or At Least Try To)\u201d at Pet Central, \u201cYou can\u2019t change your cat\u2019s instincts, but you can put safety measures in place to ensure their love affair with the Fir by the fireplace doesn\u2019t end in tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are some tips suggested in the article:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tAnchor the tree so it can\u2019t fall over.
\n\u2022\tAvoid glass and anything sharp, such as certain ornaments.
\n\u2022\tCover electrical cords.
\n\u2022\tIf your tree needs water, cover the base.
\n\u2022\tKeep tinsel and ribbon out of reach as they can cause issues if swallowed.<\/p>\n

There are other great ways to pet-proof your home during the holidays. According to the article, \u201c8 Holiday Pet-Proofing Tips\u201d at Vetstreet.com, \u201cYou also need to assess and prioritize the risks your household presents, identify your pets\u2019 risk-taking tendencies and work to strategically minimize the most dangerous risks to individual pets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vetstreet article offers some tips of do\u2019s and don\u2019ts:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tElevate the holiday tree by placing it in a tall pot or high on a pedestal.
\n\u2022\tMake decorations inaccessible.
\n\u2022\tStay away from dangerous items such as real mistletoe: It\u2019s \u201creportedly toxic.\u201d
\n\u2022\tUse silver duct tape instead of ribbon.<\/p>\n

The holidays can be just as fun if you keep away the dangerous and toxic items so that your cat is safe. There\u2019s nothing worse than having an accident, especially during the holidays. You and your cat can then have a stress-free holiday season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Benefits of Food Puzzles for Pets Great Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with Your Pets How to Keep Your Cat Safe from Holiday Decorations The Benefits of Food Puzzles for Pets Food puzzles can be great ways to help dogs and cats have something to do when it comes to eating along with other… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":380,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions\/380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}