Keeping Your Pup Safe and Happy This Pawliday Season!
The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, but it can also bring unexpected dangers for your dog. From festive decorations to holiday feasts, the excitement can quickly turn into a stressful or even dangerous situation for your furry friend. Here’s how to keep your dog safe, happy, and stress-free this holiday season.
Toxic Foods
The holiday season brings a variety of delicious treats that can be harmful to dogs. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, alcohol, and even fatty table scraps can cause severe digestive issues or toxicity. Here is a list of a few common table items that can seriously harm your pup:
Sweet treats: Chocolate, cookies, desserts, and syrups (especially those containing xylitol).
Table scraps: Fatty trimmings, bones, onions, garlic, and spices.
Nuts: Macadamias and walnuts.
Tip: Keep all food out of reach, and make sure guests understand not to feed your dog scraps, no matter how hard they beg.
Dangerous Decorations
The festive allure of shiny ornaments, tinsel, candles and holiday plants can lead to dangerous chewing or swallowing. These items can cause choking, internal injuries, or even poisoning.
Christmas trees: Keep ornaments high and secure, avoid tempting water additives, and stabilize the tree to prevent tipping.
Tinsel, ribbons, and string lights: These can cause choking or blockages if swallowed.
Candles and essential oils: Candles, especially those with essential oils, can be toxic to dogs and can cause symptoms ranging from drooling to more severe reactions.
Tip: Secure your Christmas tree to prevent tipping and keep breakable items and decorations far from your dog’s reach.
Holiday Plants
Plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, amaryllis, holly and pine can be toxic if ingested. Check out this list of 11 Christmas plants that are toxic to dogs.
Tip: Use pet-safe alternatives or keep these plants completely out of reach. If you think your pet may have ingested a toxic plant, call your vet right away!
Overstimulation and Stress
The noise, excitement, and unfamiliar faces at holiday gatherings can be overwhelming for dogs and puppies.
Create a Safe Space: Designate a quiet, cozy area where your dog can retreat if the festivities become too much. Use a crate or a gated-off room with their bed and toys.
Manage and Supervise Interactions: Use baby gates to limit access to busy areas or create boundaries to prevent accidents. Supervise interactions between your dog and guests, especially children and those unfamiliar with dogs - Prevention is key!
Tip: Watch for signs of stress, such as excessive panting, pacing, or hiding.
Toys and Batteries
Toys and batteries are common holiday hazards for dogs. Batteries, especially those in toys, can cause severe harm if ingested, leading to kidney damage or pancreatitis.
Tip: Keep batteries and small toys out of your pet's reach, and supervise children's playtime to prevent hazards. Provide safe dog toys to redirect their curiosity!
As you enjoy the holiday season, keep your dog’s safety top of mind. By being aware of common hazards like toxic foods, dangerous decorations, and overstimulation, you can ensure that both you and your pup have a stress-free and joyful time. Take simple precautions, create a safe space, and always supervise interactions. With a little extra care, your dog can happily join in the festivities, keeping the holidays merry for everyone—furry friends included!
Ready to make life easier this holiday season? Contact us today to learn more about our programs or schedule a training session.
