The thrill of the holidays is upon us, and many will get carried away by the seasonal activities and atmosphere. We’re prone to overindulgence, whether it’s the stomach or the spending—but before we make sure to consider the belt and the budget, a familiar bark reminds us that we need to consider how to prepare for our four-legged friend.
Our merry-making needn’t be interrupted by an unfortunate incident with our best furry friend. Make sure you plan a hazard-free holiday for your beloved dog with these seven categories for consideration:
Dog-Safe Decor
Red and green, or perhaps blue and silver…the festive colors come out in style at Christmas time to transform your home with visual holiday splendor. Just make sure you consider the various elements and how they might impact a curious canine. For instance:
- Tinsel may not be toxic, but it’s tiny, thin, and easily swallowed. Once eaten, it can get trapped in the intestinal tract and require veterinary care.
- Lights and other electrical Christmas decorations are dangers for furry family members who like to chew on things. Light strings and extension cords may look like a tasty rope chew toy, so make sure all lights use three-prong extension cords for safety and monitor any areas accessible to dog-level curiosity and chewing.
- Ornaments come in many shapes and sizes, but also materials: glass ornaments or other breakable items can be knocked down and get in mouths or paws, causing external and internal lacerations. Make sure fragile ornaments are hung out of reach and are secure against falling.
- Speaking of falling, trees should be extra secure as dogs running into or under may knock it over, causing injury or worse. If it’s a real tree, the ASPCA reminds you to be sure whatever fertilizer water additives you might use in the tree stand are animal safe.
Animals and Ambiance
The decorations are up, and now it’s time to light some candles and seasonal-smelling potpourri, right? Wait a minute: consider how these additions might also impact animals.
Candles can add a flickering warmth to any holiday scene, but not only can your dog potentially burn themselves, they might knock if over and turn your home into a flaming Yuletide terror! Even hot dripping wax may burn those paws. You may consider battery-operated candles or ensure that any real candles are high or on wall sconces that safely catch waxy drips.
Potpourri kept anywhere your dog might lick can have two potentially hazardous implications. You might get away with facing some ill-advised licks that come away with chemical burns, but it might prove even worse: they may also get sick, facing a fever and poisoning. A non-toxic candle safely placed may be the better option for dog lovers.
Plant Versus Pooch
Let’s consider that Christmas tree once more: even with a secure stand and safe water, a real tree’s pine needles might cause oral irritation or worse: vomiting and diarrhea. A pet parent may decide it’s time to go for a fabricated tree. In addition, other holiday plants often turn up at this time, so make sure a well-meant offering doesn’t offer toxic repercussions. All of these are dangerous to pets if ingested:
- Poinsettias
- Mistletoe
- Holly
- Lilies
Silk or plastic plants are probably your best bet, although prevention.com mentions that real roses, marigolds, orchids, and daisies may be safe options as well.
Clear and Presents Danger
You’ve taken care to select presents for everyone in the family, which probably includes your furry best friend. Even presents can harbor seasonal risks for our dogs:
Gift wrap can be chewed up and swallowed, with various papers, dyes, and adhesives causing havoc for canine stomachs.
Ribbons, in particular, can create the same problems as tinsel and get caught and tangled in an animals digestive tract.
Snow globes, which sometimes turn up as gifts (or decorations) contain chemicals in the water that might sicken a dog, or worse. If it breaks inside a package and leaks on the floor, or simply gets knocked off a shelf, shards an toxins might be deadly.
Think through what’s inside—and covering—your gifts. You may have to take a tip from Santa and keep presents safely hidden out of reach until Christmas morning when they can be monitored. Some of your presents might contain edible items as well, which leads us to our next concern:
Four-Legged Food Risks
The holidays often mean rarely-used foods make a special seasonal appearance, so while you might not have had reasons for concerns, they are suddenly more accessible to inquisitive, sniffing snouts.
- Grapes, raisins, currants and other nuts turn up in holiday recipes that are harmful to dogs, leading to kidney failure. Whether it’s your turkey stuffing or a delectable dessert, they shouldn’t be fed to your furry friend or left within reach.
- Turkey bones may splinter and cause digestive harm and havoc. The fatty trimmings also aren’t good for their system either. As much as your or family members may want to lower the leftovers or leave a greasy plate for licking, it’s safest to let your dog enjoy their own treats and steer clear of poultry offerings.
- Chocolate is often in abundance in desserts served, stocking samplers, and wrapped gifts. Recipes call for cocoa, baking chocolate and more. It’s also super easy (especially for kids) to take a bite or square and leave the candy bar lying around. Be extra careful and advise guests as just a few ounces can be toxic and call your vet (or the pet poison helpline) immediately if you suspect they’ve ingested it.
In addition, human house guests might not know to exercise cautions and leave these items within reach, so don’t assume your personal diligence means they’re safe.
Canine-Clueless Houseguests
Once a year people who may not regularly interact with dogs fill holiday homes for the festivities, sometimes with new children who also aren’t acclimated to house pets. They may even be spending a night or few, and unprepared for canine considerations. A few tips to start collaborating:
Canine Care Briefing: You might know all the information above, and more, but do your extended family members? Make your own list with general tips like these and issues specific to your dog’s size, breed and temperament. Take time to go through the items with visitors and ask for their courtesy in honoring your pet’s needs.
The Dog’s Room: Your four-legged friend might not be as extroverted as you, and the unusual amount of visitors may be very taxing. Knowing they have a retreat and a space of their own is very important.
Monitor Medications: In addition to food and other things guests might leave lying around, they may have daily medications they aren’t used to keeping safe from canine curiosity. People’s prescriptions could obviously have dangerous side effects so make sure pill cases and containers are in safe, secure areas.
Weatherproof Pooch
For many, the holiday season means colder weather and winter conditions, snow and ice or sub-zero temperatures. Whether your dog simply needs a walk to do their duty or is facing an extended stay outside, make sure they’re equipped for cold-weather conditions, possibly including the following:
- A garage stay versus outside if it’s too cold.
- An outside shelter that is warm, dray and well insulated.
- Acclimatizing space for temperature change from inside to outside.
- Towel dried when they’ve gotten wet outside.
- For some dogs, an appropriate sweater for winder conditions.
- Paw protection from frostbite, rock salt and other concerns.
- Close monitoring and leash.
Consult the ASPCA and VetMed for more cold weather tips.
With a few pooch preferred purchases, exchanged traditions or decorations, and good conversation you can easily make your holiday hazard free for your dog’s home. A little precaution and prevention will lead to lasting memories of a holiday filled with love and laughter.
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Top Image Courtesy of Flickr/nicktakespics
