It might seem like an adorable thing to do in the lead up to Christmas or on the big day, but putting your pet into a festive outfit can be very “distressing” for them. There are loads of retailers, both in store and online, that sell these cute outfits that cover the pets’ entire body.
Even though the dog, cat or bird might only be in the costume for a few seconds, pet owners have been urged to be careful. Sydney Animal Hospitals vet Dr Zoe Pimlott told Yahoo Lifestyle you could be doing more harm than good.
“It’s very much case by case. Some dogs and some breeds of cats don’t mind these kind of things,” she said.
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She said some hairless breeds will commonly wear jackets through winter or raincoats when it’s wet and they will likely have become desensitised to having clothing on them.
However, there are others that won’t be used to this feeling.
“It can be quite distressing,” Dr Pimlott added. “Use your judgment, if that’s what you want to do.
“If you’re trying to force your animal into a piece of clothing, that’s not okay.
“Look at what they’re doing, and if that’s something that you really want to try, just don’t push it.”
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She said most pet owners will be well aware of how their animal acts when they’re not happy.
The vet added that most cats will not be big fans of this, so it might not be worth all the hassle just for a fun picture to share on social media.
“It’s pretty safe to assume that a cat is not going to be okay with it,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable to push an animal to wear clothing for our enjoyment if it’s going to be stressing them out.”
Retailers like Kmart, Big W, and Target sell these outfits and they come in a range of sizes and styles.
You can get a little Santa hat that only costs $5, or you can get a full costume that runs from their heads to their tails for as little as $10.
It’s not just Christmas that pet owners do this, with Halloween also a popular time of year for animals to be dressed up.
How to know if your pet doesn’t like its Christmas outfit
The RSPCA echoed Dr Pimlott’s warning saying that pet owners shouldn’t avoid dressing their animals up altogether.
But urged them to keep an eye out to see if it’s causing any irritation or upset.
“This may appear as difficulty moving normally, including ‘freezing’, struggling to remove the costume or signs of anxiety such as panting,” the animal welfare group said.
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“Alternatives to costumes that your dog might tolerate include a bandana or festive collar or harness.
“Even pets who appear calm when wearing a costume should be supervised closely at all times and should only wear their outfits for short periods.”
The group added that animals communicate through body language with their ears, eyes, tails and body position.
Having outfits or costumes that cover these parts can mean pet owners and other animals might miss when the pet is distressed, unhappy, or angry.
Owners are advised not to pick outfits that:
cover your pet’s nose or mouth, restricting their breathing, eating or drinking
cover their eyes, obscuring vision
are too tightly fitted, causing overheating or distress
are too loosely fitted, causing accidents or tripping
prevent them from expressing normal behaviours such as walking, toileting or resting
have dangling, sparkling or other attachments that pets can pull off and swallow, risking an obstruction or choking
contain sharp items such as safety pins that could cause accidental injury
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