Dog News

Holiday Safety

by Shawn Finch, DVM

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My Daughter: “What are you going to write about this week, Mom?”
me: “I think holiday safety, if that isn’t too boring.”
My Daughter: “Safety isn’t boring, Mom.”

Indeed. Smart kid.

And with that, here are some very important, non-boring holiday safety tips…

ChristmasTree2009

No chocolate, no alcohol, no bones, no xylitol, no garlic, no onions, no macadamia nuts, no grapes, no raisins and no currants. I am not even sure what currants are, but I know they are related to grapes, and they sound festive, so they could potentially be a holiday risk as holiday baking gets underway!

GreyhoundChristmas

Watch the trash – it is yummier and thus potentially more tempting this time of year!

Pug Christmas

Keep electric wires out of reach. Even dogs who know better may be intrigued by new wires to Christmas lights and such.

Weimie Christmas

Likewise, keep lit candles, tinsel, curling ribbon and decorations with small parts out of reach.

SammieChristmas

♫ Mistletoe hung out of reach… ♫

Of all of the winter holiday plants, mistletoe is the most dangerous if ingested. Poinsettias, holly and pine needles are much less of a risk, but may cause oral irritation and gastrointestinal upset. To be safest, keep all holiday plants out of reach.

BostonKisses

Keep an eye on pet-kid interactions. It is almost always very fun to spend time with new dog friends if you are a person and new person friends if you are a dog, but make sure an adult is supervising it all and keeping everyone – dogs and people – safe.

PomChristmas

Give your dogs a safe place to retreat – a room or kennel where they can rest if festivities or unfamiliar friends and relatives get to be too much.

Bloodhound Christmas

Spoil your dogs rotten with toys and treats – but make sure the treats are safe, low fat, and given in moderation. Their “off button” is even more defective than ours when it comes to holiday eating! If your dogs are super cute, and there are many people at the house, they may be getting treats from lots of hands, so work as a team to prevent them from over eating and to prevent them eating things they shouldn’t!

BlackandTanChristmas

Double check your veterinarian’s holiday office hours, and make sure you have your veterinarian’s office phone number and the closest veterinary emergency hospital’s phone number. I hope you will not need the information, but have it close at hand just in case!

I wish you a very safe, very non-boring holiday season, filled to the top with friends, family, food and fur!

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