The holidays are coming up fast and since this is the first post-pandemic holiday season, it is bound to be chaotic and confusing at times. The holidays can be a stressful time for humans and their pets as well. Between holiday gatherings and gift shopping, it might be hard to keep an eye on your pets. The holidays are a fun time, but they also come with several hazards that can be very dangerous to your dog. We love our clients and their canine companions, so we want to offer some tips on keeping your dog safe around the holidays.
Keeping your Dog Safe Around the Holidays
Provide a place that your dog can go to relax.
With this being the first post-pandemic holiday, having a lot of people in your house so suddenly may stress out your dog. Before guests arrive, make sure that you reserve a room or area where your dog can go to relax if things get too stressful. Ideally, you should put something they are familiar with such as a crate or their bed in the room. Make sure they have plenty of access to food and water.
Keep poisonous holiday plants out of the house.
Many types of common holiday plants can be deadly to animals. Mistletoe can cause gastritis in smaller doses but if the exposure is larger, the treatment might have to be intensive and even include heart monitoring. The Amaryllis is also toxic and ingestion of the leaves can cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your dog eats the bulb, it can result in hypotension, weakness, and seizures. If your dog touches the sap of a poinsettia, it can cause redness, swelling, and itching. If you have a live Christmas tree, keep your dog away from the fallen needles as their ingestion can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy.
Keep your dog away from holiday food.
Many holiday-friendly human foods can be dangerous to our canine companions. Chocolate, onions, grapes, and food with xylitol can all be toxic to dogs. Keep your dog safe and stick to holiday treats that are specifically made for dogs. Make sure your guests are also aware of this. Keep the phone number for animal poison control handy in case of emergencies.
Watch out for environmental hazards to your dog around the holidays.
Ribbons can be a great way to make wrapped presents look wonderful but if your dog swallows any of it, it can be deadly. The ribbon can get caught up in your dog’s intestines and cause an infection. Tinsel can also pose a hazard. The only way to fix the deadly infection would be surgery which would certainly ruin the holiday! Play it safe and keep the ribbons out of the reach of your dog. Candles can start a fire if knocked over by a wagging tail so place them on a shelf where they can be lit without danger. If you have a puppy that likes to chew, be sure to place your holiday light cords out of their reach. If the puppy chews through the cord, it can end up with severe mouth burns.
We hope you learned something about keeping your dog safe around the holidays. Feel free to check out our other classes, training programs, daycare, and day camp.