Christmas trees, fairy lights, parties, and holiday treats, tis the season of fun, merriment, and unfortunately potentially dangerous holiday happenings for Fido and friends. In fact, emergency veterinary calls increase dramatically during the Christmas season with certain areas showing up to 5 times the normal number of calls during December. In view of the dangers to pets of all kinds during this time, we’ve put together the following guide to help you steer clear of hazards and enjoy this festive time with your pup.
Christmas Trees:
Imagine little Fido’s glee when he sees a tree miraculously appear in your living room. He merrily pictures in-door pees, snatching colorful baubles and stealing candy canes and chocolate santas. None of these images is what a pet parent wants to see during the holiday season. Avoid such disasters by reading through the following list of helpful hints:
- Dogs may be tempted to pee on both real and artificial trees, so you will need to reenforce his house-training regimen. If you notice Fido sniffing around the tree, take him out immediately and give him a treat for peeing outside. You can also give him a tummy rub or pets while sitting by the tree, so he comes to view the tree as a sleep or play space and not a bathroom.
- Christmas trees are generally non-toxic to dogs, but other Christmas plants such as poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, ivy, and pot potpourri are poisonous, so keep them out of reach.
- Fallen needles from real Christmas trees can hurt your pet’s paws and irritate his mouth and stomach if eaten, so make sure to collect them as soon as they fall.
- Train your pet not to bite or pull the baubles off the tree to prevent choking or injury from the broken fragments. This is especially important for puppies, who may be more tempted to try and play with these colorful objects.
- Hang any chocolate ornaments out of your dog’s reach. Even well-trained dogs may become tempted when food is involved, so do not expose them to a potentially fatal toxin.
- Keep tree-light cords tidy and out of reach of your dog.
- When you are out of the house, put a barrier or play gate to block your dog’s access to your tree. It is NEVER safe to allow a dog unsupervised access to a Christmas tree.
Christmas Food:
One of the leading reasons for emergency veterinary visits during this time is canine food poisoning. Read on to learn how to prevent any food-related accidents this season:
- Chocolate in even small amounts is toxic to dogs so keep chocolate treats out of dogs’ reach.
- Sweets and sugars are not good for dogs and certain ingredients, such as xylitol used in sugar-free sweets, are downright poisonous for dogs.
- Do not give your dog Christmas puddings and mince pies, as they contain ingredients such as dried fruits, raisins, and sultans which may cause severe kidney failure in dogs.
- Avoid giving dogs foods cooked with onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives, as they are all poisonous—cooked or raw—for dogs.
- You may safely give your pup a small amount of turkey (boneless), lamb (boneless), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, and peas as long as they are not cooked with any of the aforementioned toxic ingredients.
Christmas Parties:
Depending on the temperament of your dog, Christmas parties can either be great fun or quite stressful for your pup. Read through the following pointers to ensure a safe and stress-free Christmas celebration for you and your fur baby.
- Keep your dog to his usual feeding and walking schedule as much as possible on party day, so that he will feel calm when the festivities begin.
- Do not dress your pup up as this might cause him undue stress.
- Ask your younger guests to not approach or play with your pup without supervision.
- Create a safe space for your dog to retreat to when the music or guests become too loud. He should be able to move freely from the party area to the quiet of a room that has his bed and comfort toys.
- Ask your guests not to feed your pup and make sure he cannot reach the holiday treats.
For those who celebrate Christmas, we know the holiday season can be both exciting and stressful. Your pup will feel your changed energy and will look to you for clues as to how to behave. Keep your pup to his normal routine as much as possible throughout the holiday season and prioritize safety to ensure a happier and emergency-free holiday season.
