Holiday Pet Safety: Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe This Festive Season

Love the hustle and bustle of the holidays? As you prepare your home for the season’s festivities, don’t forget the well-being of your four-legged family member. With so much going on, it’s easy to overlook holiday pet safety. Make it a priority now, and you’ll avoid accidents and emergency trips to the vet when you’re at your busiest.

Here’s a checklist to ensure your canine companion will enjoy being home for the holidays as much as you do.

Holiday Pet Safety at Home

Guests are at the door. Delicious delicious smells are coming from the kitchen. Holiday wreaths and decorations adorn your home. Everything you love about the holidays can pose hidden dangers for your pup. It pays to be aware of common in-home concerns to holiday pet safety.

Holiday Foods

Rich meals are a holiday staple and leftovers abound. It’s tempting to share table scraps or desserts with your canine pal. However, they can contain ingredients that are very harmful.
Chocolate: Even one ounce of chocolate can poison your dog, causing vomiting and seizures. Contact your vet immediately for emergency treatment.
Onions & Garlic: Lethargy and hypersalivation are some of the symptoms to watch for. These foods cause anemia, organ failure and long-term health issues.
Grapes & Raisins: Fresh or dried, they contain toxic compounds that can cause kidney failure. But grape juice, wine and grape jelly appear to be safe.
Xylitol: This artificial sweetener is sometimes used for foods such as peanut butter, pudding or baked goods. It’s extremely toxic to dogs, with even small amounts causing low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and death.

Seasonal Decor

Festive decorations turn your home into a sparkling wonderland and create major holiday pet safety hazards in nearly every room.

Christmas Trees: Prevent your dog from eating pine needles. They cause intestinal abrasions and infections. Needles can also get lodged in paw pads. Don’t allow your dog to drink the Christmas tree water; it can contain toxic fertilizers, pine oil or harmful bacteria. And broken glass ornaments are a definite danger to holiday pet safety.
Lights & Cords: Dogs, especially puppies, may chew on electric cords. This risks burns to their tongue, or an electrical shock that could damage their lungs or heart.
Tinsel & Ribbons: These can be particularly dangerous if chewed and swallowed. They damage the stomach, get caught in the intestinal tract, and cause blockages that can become a life-threatening emergency.
Festive Plants: Several holiday plants, while beautiful, are toxic to animals when ingested. A few common ones to watch out for include poinsettias, mistletoe, and “forced” spring bulbs such as daffodils and narcissi. Keep these plants out of range of your four-legged friend’s curiosity!

Lively Parties

Unfamiliar guests and the extra noise and activity of a gathering can be stressful for your dog. Give them a quiet, comfortable space to retreat to, along with familiar blankets and toys. Introduce them to guests slowly and monitor their behavior for signs of anxiety. Even the sweetest pup can become unpredictable under stress. Consider asking your vet if a mild calming medication might be helpful for your dog.

Alcoholic Beverages

Another risk to holiday pet safety is the alcohol served at gatherings. While usually not toxic in and of themselves, some beverages may have ingredients like chocolate, xylitol or spices that cause nasty reactions if lapped up by your canine companion. Be vigilant about keeping drinks covered and spills mopped up, and make sure guests are aware of the risks too.

Wrapping Up Holiday Pet Safety

Holidays are supposed to be a joyful time and keeping your dog safe should be part of that happiness. By taking some simple precautions, your furry friend will have a stress-free, hazard-free holiday season.

The busy-ness of the holidays may also call for a little extra nutritional boost. Black Gold Daily Defense Supplement Chews are a smart way to keep your pup healthy and happy, especially if they’re cooped up indoors. Or maybe it’s time to give your dog some TLC: read on for ideas in our article: how to spoil your dog this holiday season.