The festive season is nearly upon us. We transform our houses and fill it will Christmas trees, lights, holly, decorations, presents and lots of unfamiliar friends and relatives to your dogs!
Don’ let your dog eat chocolate as it’s toxic to your dog. If you have chocolate on your Christmas tree or have it wrapped up under the tree – remember your dogs can unwrap it and eat it!
Other foodstuffs which are toxic to dogs can be grapes. Also avoid giving raisins, fruit cakes, mince pies, nuts, blue cheese, puddings (alcohol), turkey bones or any COOKED bones!
Don’t let your dog chew the Christmas tree. Sounds obvious but most trees are toxic and can cause stomach complaints and make your dog very sick.
Pine needles can drop on the floor and get stuck in your dog’s paws causing mild irritation. Vacuum up the pine needles so they don’t get trod on or eaten. Place your Christmas tree in a bucket and water it well to reduce the amount of needles that drop off.
Decorations can get eaten and cause blockages so make sure they are out of reach. Place them higher up the tree rather than where your puppy can reach them. Some baubles are made from glass and can smash into shards. This can be very dangerous if your dog tries to eat one. Dogs can also chew through Christmas lights and get an electric shock, so make sure they can’t reach them and always supervise your dog around the Christmas tree.
Festive foliage can be toxic to your pets so best to avoid them being ingested altogether! They can cause vomiting & diarrhoea so keep them high up out of the way.
Batteries can cause chemical burns and heavy metal poisoning if chewed by your dog. If swallowed, they can cause obstruction and are toxic, so if your dog accidently chew or swallow any batteries then seek veterinary help.
We usually like having our presents under the Christmas tree but this is too tempting for puppies and young dogs who can smell them and want to chew on just about anything. Make sure all presents are kept off the floor and supervise your dog near the tree.
DANGER – POTENTIALLY LETHAL TO YOUR ANIMALS!
Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) is extremely dangerous to your animals and should be kept away from it. It is sweet-tasting and very palatable. Even the smallest quantity can cause serious kidney damage and can be fatal.
If your animals are suspected of ingesting antifreeze – seek veterinary attention straight away without delay.
Just remember if you can reach anything on your side boards (on your knees), then your dog can reach it too. Don’t leave anything on tables or side boards that your dog could jump up and eat. Keep bins shut away in cupboards or use a lockable bin!