Christmas Safety For Dogs

Overview:

Christmas is an exciting time for the family, but it always pays to take some extra precautions with our pets. There are many dangers around, below are some suggestions on how to ensure your dog stays safe during the Christmas period.

Christmas Tree/Decorations

The only fool proof way to keep your dog away from your Christmas tree  is to put the tree in a room the dog can't access. Unfortunately, this is often not practical. So the next best solution is to make the tree as safe as possible.  Real Christmas trees are more dangerous to dogs than fake plastic ones. Pine needles can puncture internal organs if eaten, they are also toxic to dogs. If you do have a real tree, make sure the drink stand has plenty of water to prevent the tree drying out & losing needles. It is important that your dog isn't able to get to this water & drink it as it could result in poisoning. Ensure the tree has a good solid base so it won't easily be knocked over by your dog. Try not to have the tree near furniture & or shelves which the dogs could use to jump onto the tree. 

Be careful with tinsel, if you must have it on your tree, place it at the top of the tree where the dog is less likely to be able to get at it. Tinsel can be caught around the base or move down to the intestines & stomach & cause a blockage, which will result in emergency (and costly) surgery to remove it.   A safer alternative are the strands of beads. Ornaments should be securely attached to the tree to prevent them being knocked off. Also place delidoge ornaments up high where they're less likely to be knocked off & broken. When there is nobody around, unplug Christmas lights, you may want to try applying a dog repellent  such as bitter apple to the lights to deter your dog from chewing the wires, obviously if this was to happen it could cause a fatal electric shock. 

Artificial snow is toxic to dogs, so is best avoided.  

Candles are especially popular over the Christmas holiday period, be careful to make sure your dog can't get close to lit candles. 

Please note, your dog isn't a novelty item & it's dangerous to try & decorate your dog with ribbons etc.

Plants

Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias are all popular plants to have in the home at Christmas, especially in the northern hemisphere. These plants are toxic to dogs so should be placed where your dog can't get to them. Please see our page on common household toxins for an extensive list on toxic & non toxic plants. 

Food/Sweets/Chocolate

Many dog owners enjoy giving their dog the occasional treat of "human" food & generally this doesn't harm the dog.  However, it is important to remember that some foods which are fine for humans to eat can be toxic to dogs. The odd sliver of chicken or turkey (off the bone) is fine, however it really isn't a good idea to give them large quantities of such food as this can lead to gastrointestinal problems.  Never give your dog cooked chicken or turkey bones, these bones can splinter & can become lodged in your dog's throat or puncture the intestines & stomach. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic. Chocolate contains both caffeine & theobromine, which are both toxic. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate watch for signs of restlessness & vomiting, if in doubt, see your vet.  

Dogs will often scavenge for food in the garbage so be aware that if you've covered your turkey with foil & thrown it in the bin, your dog may drag it out & chew on it which could make the dog sick. Cooked turkey bones will also attract your dog. Be aware of this & if possible, take your food scraps etc., to your outside bin.

Xmas ribbons/wrap

Ribbons etc., pose the same problem as tinsel, if eaten, it may lead to intestinal blockages. It's important to ensure all ribbons/wrap etc., are safely disposed of. 

Visitors

Some dogs love the attention of visitors, others find strangers in their house stressful. Christmas is often a busy time with visitors coming & going. Be mindful of your dog's feelings & give the dog the option of somewhere quiet to escape to should the need arise, this is particularly important if your friends & relatives have young children. 

Holidays

If you are going away on holiday, you have several options for your dog. You may choose to put your dog in a boarding kennel while you are gone. It is best to check out the premises prior to taking your dog there so you can ensure the kennel meets your standards. Any reputable boarding kennel will insist your dog is up to date on it's vaccinations, this is important for the well being of your dog & all other dogs they have boarding there. Many vets also do boarding for dogs but in my opinion this isn't ideal for more than a few days as their cages tend to be much smaller than those you'd expect to find in a boarding kennel. 

There are a growing number of pet sitters available these days. They will come over once or twice a day to feed & play with your dog & to clean the litter tray. I find this most suitable when going away for a few days. 

If you are going away for an extended period of time you may want to consider asking a friend or relative to house sit. 

Whichever option you take, make sure you leave a phone number where you can be contacted & your vet's telephone number in case of an emergency. 

Toys

When buying toys for your dog, make sure you thoroughly check them first. Similar precautions should be taken with your dog's toys as you'd take buying a toy for a young child. Make sure there is nothing glued on that the dog can pull off & swallow. As the toy will quite likely be chewed on, ensure that it's made from a non-toxic substance. Any toy that is small enough for your dog to swallow is dangerous & should be avoided. 

Pets as gifts

Buying a puppy as a gift is fine as long as the person receiving the puppy has asked for a pet & knows that owning a dog is quite likely to be a 10+ year responsibility. Never buy a pet as a surprise gift for somebody. Also, because Christmas is usually such a chaotic time, it is best to try & arrange to collect your puppy after Christmas to avoid undue stress on the animal. Please, if you are considering buying a pet as a gift, really think it through before you do so. Pet ownership is a big responsibility & shouldn't be entered into lightly. Any shelter worker will tell you that their most busy time of the year is just after Christmas people bring them unwanted pets. Don't add to the problem by buying a pet for somebody on a whim. 

Ticks:

Ticks are around from spring & into autumn.

Snakes:

Snake bite poisoning is a very serious danger to dogs, especially in the warmer months. Read here for more information on snake bites & dogs.

Heat Stroke:

Another medical emergency is heat stroke (also known as hyperthermia). If you suspect your dog has heat stroke, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.