It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but our pets can find Christmas unsettling; so how can we make sure they enjoy the festivities as much as we do?

PDSA Veterinary nurse Joanne Wright gives her top tips:

“Christmas is a time for joy and excitement but it can also be busy, noisy and stressful. Many pets love the extra visitors, fuss, gifts and having their families’ home with them. But, for some pets, the changes to routines, visitors and decorations can worry them. With a little planning though, we can help our furry friends enjoy the festive period too.”

It’s best to keep pets out of harm’s way while you decorate your home and not leave pets unsupervised with your decorations once they’re up.

Having a present or two under the Christmas tree to spoil our pets can be a wonderful way of making sure pets can enjoy the festivities. It’s preferable to treat them to new toys rather than food presents, which can lead to pets piling on unnecessary pounds.

While it’s tempting to spoil our pets with delicious rich Christmas foods, be aware that some human foods can cause some serious health issues in pets. Some pets have very sensitive stomachs, so rich food can lead to sickness, diarrhoea or even pancreatitis.

Some festive foods are highly toxic to pets, such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, because they contain raisins and sultanas. Chocolates can often be found in abundance in many homes over Christmas but is also poisonous to pets, so make sure they’re kept out of paw’s reach!

While a slice of lean turkey on Christmas Day is a nice treat, it’s best to otherwise stick to your pet’s normal diet over the festive period; even if they do look at you with puppy eyes!

Download your free Christmas survival guide at www.pdsa.org.uk/xmasguide.

PDSA is the UK’s leading vet charity. We’re on a mission to improve pet wellbeing through prevention, education and treatment.