The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they are also a time of stress and planning. With Thanksgiving looming and Christmas on the horizon, there are in-laws to plan for, meals to cook, presents to buy, grandkids to entertain, and decorations to put up. Not only is it a stressful time for individuals and families, but the holidays also causes a significant increase in stress in pets. From a large number of strangers to vacations away from home to different meal schedules, pets have a variety of reasons to have holiday anxiety. They rely on their daily routine for consistency, and when that routine is changed, everyone involved suffers.
Unfortunately for homeowners, one of the first symptoms of a “stressed-out” pet often is having an accident indoors. With the countless stresses, stains and messes that come with holiday entertaining, the last thing pet owners want or need is a pet stain to clean up and the lingering odor that comes with it.
The experts here at Metro Chem-Dry recommend the following steps for pet lovers to ensure a joyful and accident-free holiday season with their furry companions:
#1 Create a Safe Space
Create a safe space for pets away from the crowd that includes toys, a bed and other familiar items like food and a water bowl to help decrease anxiety. This helps your pet to have a place that is specifically designated for them, allowing them to feel more secure, comfortable, and at ease in the house. Make this space away from the areas with the most noise like the kitchen and living room to help relieve stress even more. If your pet is especially prone to nervous or shy behavior, you may consider setting up a cover to drape over the top and back of the space to provide added privacy.
#2 Stick to a Familiar Schedule
Follow a familiar schedule and limit the amount of changes pets are exposed to by taking walks and feeding them at the regular times. With all of the changes that pets’ schedules have to make in order to account for the hectic holidays, even a small amount of consistency can make a big difference. Feeding pets at consistent times allows pets to still feel like they have some kind of routine amid the craziness. In addition to following a routine, talking walks at consistent times also allows pets to get out of the house and away from the noise and the strangers.
#3 Pet-proof the Home
Pet-proof the home by keeping holiday decorations, electrical cords, food, alcoholic beverages and holiday plants out of reach to avoid stressful trips to the vet. Many of the traditional Christmas decorations such as tinsel, lights, mistletoe and even pine needles can cause serious health problems in pets. Be sure to cover your tree tightly with skirting, vacuum up pine needles frequently, tape electrical lights to walls or the floor and keep your more breakable items on higher shelves.
When Accidents Do Happen
When accidents do occur, it is vital to act quickly to remove the stains. Metro Chem-Dry is here to help! We offer professional cleaning services to help preserve both your carpets and your home health. The professionals here at Metro Chem-Dry would come into your home and provide their revolutionary P.U.R.T. (Pet Urine Removal Treatment) service to eliminate pet urine odors and stains right at the source. One of Metro Chem-Dry's areas of specialty is dealing with pet accidents in the home. Our proprietary P.U.R.T. product is specifically designed to blast the urine crystals out at the base of the carpet getting rid of the smell for good. Call us today for your carpet & upholstery cleaning needs!
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