12/11/2023
Keep holiday hazards in mind as you decorate and party
Welcoming guests to the door? Remember to have your pup wearing a collar with ID (microchips are always a wise plan). If your dog is a jumper, pop a sign on your door that says “dog in training, please knock and wait” or ask your friends to text before they arrive. That way you can leash up and grab a Tupperware container full of REALLY GOOD TREATS. Stand back from the door, hold a treat on your dog’s nose and call “come in”. Give them the treat and put another on their nose right away while you lead your dogs back further from the door. Encourage your guests to take off their coat and boots, while asking your pup for lots of sits for treats. Ask your guest to head to a seat, while you follow at a distance asking for sits for treats. Keep the game going while your guest gets settled. When your dog has calmed down a bit from the excitement, walk the dog over to the guest – let them sniff, and then pop another treat right on their nose and lead them away to sit back to you. If they continue to look stressed or excited, keep them busy with sits and treats. Then start adding in downs. As your dog’s excitements lessens and they know the guest is not going to bother them, you can release the dog and walk over with them. Lure them away after a brief hello, and back to the game. While it seems like a hassle, the more you do this, the less work you will have to do as your dog will learn what the greeting routine is…and that guests are simply an excuse for awesome munchies (and guests will never loom over them rubbing their head, but simply sit still while the pup sniffs them). If the REALLY GOOD TREATS are starting to excite your dog, after a few times switch to something less awesome. (Remember, labs will think their dinner kibble is an awesome treat)...
Tinsel – with a sparkle and brightness that dazzle humans and pets alike. If your pup eats tinsel it could get lodged in their gut and cause a blockage (usually expensively dealt with in surgery). Make sure to put tinsel so high your dog can’t reach it by jumping. While we’re at it – watch out for ribbons, bows, bells or other small add-ons to wrapped gifts.
If you give or receive a gift at your home containing food, your pup can sniff it out, so stash it safely. Also, watch out for chocolate – for example, in candy dishes or advent calendars – dogs can jump for chocolate too! Chocolate can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly death. Same goes for xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in some chocolates and candies, which is highly toxic and can cause seizures, organ failure, or death. If you think your pet has eaten chocolate or xylitol, call the vet immediately!
Gotta love those twinkling string lights, but this year consider LED versus glass lights. Glass lights are easily breakable and the last thing we want is a dog or cat to eat a bulb or step on shards of glass. They are also an electrocution hazard, so keep the lights up high or tightly secured so they can’t be easily ripped down by curious creatures, and consider using cord protectors (such as a length of PVC pipe readily available at a hardware store) for hanging cords and for cords on the floor. And candles? Skip them this year – especially with a curious puppy - or use LED ones.
Christmas trees and their real or fake needles can cause your dog to have a very upset tummy. Setting up a baby gate can help keep your nosy pup and tree separated. As for winter plants, holly, mistletoe, lilies, and poinsettias are considered toxic to pets. If eaten in large quantities, they can cause stomach issues, seizures, and possibly death. Christmas cactus is fairly non-dog-toxic, so if you’d like a plant around the house, this is a great choice. Also be careful if you use a preservative in the water to keep your tree fresh, that water can cause tummy issues, too.
Trees can also be knocked over easily, so a baby-gate can be your best friend. It none is available check your local thrift store, or consider putting the tree in a corner and using a rope to fasten it to the wall. Speaking of trees, as beautiful as glass ornaments are, make sure your tree ornaments are nonbreakable and place them high up on the tree. That way your inquisitive pet won't knock them over and possibly cut themselves. Also, avoid small ornaments as they can be easily swallowed and become lodged in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract.
And lastly, if you love having chocolate around during the holidays (who doesn’t?), let’s say in a dish or advent calendar, you’ll need to be extra careful. Chocolate is dangerous for both dogs and cats and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly death. Same goes for xylitol. This artificial sweetener, which is found in some chocolates and candies, is considered highly toxic to pets and can cause seizures, organ failure, or death. If you think your pet has ingested chocolate or xylitol, take them to the vet immediately.
These precautions should help you have a safe and happy holiday…although with dogs, you’re never 100% guaranteed of perfection 😊
