I’ll be [bringing my pet] home for Christmas…

Tips and tricks to manage your pet’s food during holiday travel … or what to do so the dog—or cat—doesn’t puke under the table.

For those of you who might be traveling during the holidays, the following can help manage your pets’ food and may be the difference between a silent night or cleaning up vomit from your relative’s rug.

I f you think going over the river and through the woods is overwhelming, just think what it’s like for your pet. By the time it gets to your destination, it’s been kenneled in a car and possibly had to poop in a strange place, not to mention arriving somewhere that smells foreign and may have other, possibly irritating, animal inhabitants—like children. So, the least you could do is keep your pet’s food consistent, right?

Pack your pet’s bowls. This helps eliminate food and water bowl anxiety and potential altercation between pets around the food dish.

Pre-measure meals. Pre-pack meals in individual plastic bags to ensure consistency and to regulate Aunt Betsy’s appetite for overfeeding. Sticking to your pet’s normal diet and calorie intake may help prevent tummy upset.

Label snacks and treats. Allow family members and guests to offer the “morning cookie” or “midnight snack.” Designating snacks in this manner may help prevent well-intentioned folks from creating an all-day buffet of snacking.

Indulge in a special meal. Bring one or two meals that feel like a treat for your pet—nutritious commercial foods packaged in convenient cans or bags—to discourage overzealous guests from offering table scraps as a treat.

Give a little extra exercise. Let your dog or cat unwind with a long walk or a few short play periods a day. It will also help balance out any extra calories Uncle Fred might be sneaking your pet. Plus, playtime will help you reduce any of your own holiday weight gain and tension as well.

Courtesy of DVM360. Source: Ernie Ward, DVM