Here comes the final push of holiday-related social media content and blog posts for the year, and you are struggling. If you have to come up with one more creative way to tell pet owners not to feed their pooch turkey, or to keep their feline friend from scaling the Christmas tree, you’re going to lose your mind. And, are your loyal readers really interested in reading the same old holiday hazards list that you’ve churned out the past three years? Probably not. 

So, what’s a busy veterinary professional to do when they simply don’t have the time or energy to be creative amid all the holiday hubbub? First, turn to your clients to see what interests them. Create a social media poll, or leave an open-ended question to see what pet owners want to know about caring for their furry companions this holiday season. Then, build on our seven tips with the ideas you receive, and you will have fresh holiday content. 

#1: Fabricate a letter from a pet you helped over the holiday season

Do you receive thank-you cards from pets you’ve helped? If so, they are the perfect basis for a holiday blog post. And, if not, don’t worry! You can create a fictional pet you’ve treated, and write a letter from their perspective. For example, title your blog post, “An Open Letter from Sparky, the Pup Who Got the Shock of His Life On Christmas.” You can write a letter from Sparky’s viewpoint that details how he chewed on the Christmas tree lights and received quite the shock, and then was treated at your hospital. Telling an educational story from the pet’s perspective puts a fun twist on the same old holiday topics.

#2: Share holiday safety tips in a story format

Instead of writing a letter from a pet thanking you for treatment, you can “listen in” on a conversation between household pets. One great idea is to use an older, wiser pet teaching a young whippersnapper his life lessons about common holiday hazards. 

#3: Illustrate holiday dangers from a unique perspective

Telling stories about holiday dangers from a pet’s view certainly spices up your blog posts, but consider throwing in an organ’s perspective. For example, ask the pancreas its feelings about the onslaught of holiday goodies that pets get into over Thanksgiving and Christmas. A pet’s pancreas discussing the ins and outs of pancreatitis is a unique way to present educational information. 

#4: Have your practice owner or manager write a letter to the community

This tip doesn’t focus on holiday pet safety, but spreading goodwill and positivity throughout your community is a wonderful holiday message. Consider having your practice owner or manager write a letter thanking the community for supporting you for another incredible year. Or, have your entire team jot down a few quick thoughts about what they’ve been thankful for over the past year. These can include anything from equipment upgrades to provide better care, to a special patient who has made a huge impact on the team, or personal achievements. Sharing your team’s human qualities will help your clients see you as people, too, and strengthen a relationship that may have been strained by the pandemic frustrations.

You can also use this community-themed post to ask for help for your local animal shelter. Either tack on a blurb about giving back to your pet community, or design a stand-alone post that talks about participating in the season of giving. Tie in November’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week and Adopt a Senior Pet Month to create more awareness, which these two topics always need.

#5: Tackle common topics from a different angle

You know that list of toxic holiday foods you write about every year? Tackle it from a different angle. Instead of going in-depth on every food’s dangers, share ways to create a healthy holiday feast for pets. Include recipes, or simply list healthy options that pet owners may already be preparing. Rather than telling your clients what not to do, tell them how they can include their pets in the holiday festivities, which will be an appreciated new take on an old topic.

#6: Stick to holiday themes when creating your lists of safety tips

Holiday themes provide a great guideline for creative blog posts. You may want to incorporate the 12 days of Christmas into general winter safety tips, or to showcase 12 days of Christmas disasters. New Year’s resolutions for pets are also a fantastic way to highlight wellness and preventive care, weight management, a healthy diet, dental care, and other topics that can encourage clients to schedule an appointment. 

#7: Share a holiday hazard case you cared for in your practice

 

Make the situation personal, but not too personal—keep the pet and owner’s identity unknown—by sharing a holiday hazard case in your practice. For example, outline the details of a turkey leg tragedy that resulted in a foreign body surgery. Or, discuss how you treated a naughty kitten who scampered through the Christmas tree branches and got an ornament hook stuck in their leg. If your patients have all been perfect angels and remain on Santa’s nice list, make up a holiday hazard case instead.  Think of a clever backstory—for example, the dumpster-diving puppy who chewed a chicken carcass, and required surgery to remove a bone. Then, outline your treatment plan, and you’ve got an intriguing tale to tell clients. 

We understand that creating fresh content to write about each holiday season can be a struggle. Fortunately, our fabulous team of writers pumps up their creative juices around the holidays, and can help you create fun, new holiday-themed blog posts that will educate and entertain. Shoot the Rumpus Writing and Editing team a message for help getting your holiday blog posts out of a rut.