Christmas is a time for all members of the family including your pets. When we are all celebrating during the festive period, we need to be cautious of our dogs. Read on to find out the most important Christmas advice for dog owners.
The best piece of Christmas advice for dog owners is to be aware that dogs are able to identify the extra energy and activity in the house with decorations being up, guests coming over, etc., so they typically become extremely enthusiastic about all the holiday activities. When they sense the good energy, their tails wag more. They even get Christmas presents which often consist of new toys, treats, or bones. They like all the extra food and goodies that come with the holidays, but owners must watch out not to overfeed them to prevent stomach issues. A change in routine brought on by visitors, parties, or travel may cause stress in certain dogs. Providing them with secure areas for relaxation and maintaining regular activities like walks can be beneficial.
Dogs like participating in holiday festivities just as everyone else does, such as playing in the snow, visiting Santa at pet picture events, riding around to see the Christmas lights, and sitting by the tree. Although they are unaware of the religious significance, they know that Christmas is a happy time for their family. They adore all the love and care that the holiday season brings.
The Christmas Tree
The first thing we’ll address in this Christmas advice for dog owners guide is the tree. It’s not just cats that can tear it down, you know. You should consider using a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over so that it won’t fall over easily helping keep your pets safe. You can secure it with a rope attached to the wall or ceiling. One way of keeping your dogs away from that area is to surround the base of the tree with a baby gate or pen. Our best piece of Christmas advice for dog owners is that as tempting as it is you should consider not decorating the bottom two feet of the tree. If your dog is prone to messing with ornaments which later could cause your dog’s injuries. If you really want to decorate the full tree, you could use unbreakable shatterproof ornaments near the bottom and on lower branches letting your dogs safely be around the tree and not swallowing them.
Avoiding Holiday Food Dangers
To avoid the chocolate is another great piece of Christmas advice for dog owners. It’s a given any day, but important to remember around the holiday period where they are often given as gifts or an after-dinner nibble. Chocolate may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, heart issues, and even death in dogs, therefore it’s best to avoid giving it to them. Dogs shouldn’t consume chocolate festive baked products that contain xylitol sugar substitutes, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, or garlic. No fatty scraps or turkey bones, as these can lead to pancreatitis. Garbage should be stored carefully, particularly food packaging since dogs may get into it and consume items they shouldn’t.
Preventing Decorating Accidents
Delicate ornaments should be hung high or replaced with sturdy wooden or plastic ones. Additionally, as they provide a risk of strangling or obstruction if swallowed, you should hang ribbon and tinsel out of your dog’s reach or not at all. Consider choosing pet-safe artificial trees free of jagged wire branches if you have pets. Christmas light wires should be covered or taped down to prevent burns or electrocution from chewing on them.
Keeping Your Dog Comfortable
When guests are over, your dog needs somewhere to go where they can feel secure and at ease. A spare room or crate works well for this. Another thing to remember in Christmas advice for dog owners is that as far as possible, you should follow your dog’s regular schedule. Interruptions can make them anxious. To reduce holiday stress, make sure your dog gets regular exercise and fun. If your dog has anxiety, you can use relaxing products like DAP diffusers. See a specialist, such as your vet, for advice if you’d like further information.
Mistletoe and Holly
Among the plants we typically associate with Christmas are holly and mistletoe, but did you know that they are deadly to dogs and cats? Depending on how much of these festive plants are eaten, your dog may experience some serious stomach issues. The most effective plan of action is to either store your happy plants in a location that your dog cannot get or to replace them with fake or pet-safe alternatives.
Loud Noises
Christmas advice for dog owners starts with keeping your dog calm, but that can be difficult if there are a lot of frightening loud noises around. A good way to keep your dog calm is to desensitize them to loud noises. Give them access to a peaceful area away from loud noises, like a den, kennel, puppy pen, or bedroom, regardless of the sound of party poppers or fireworks. Make sure to set aside some time for your dog if you’re hosting. Since our animal companions are more likely to feel overwhelmed or nervous, it’s vital to provide them with a quiet space to unwind. Children might be excitable, much like your dog, which some dogs find difficult to put up with. If there will be kids there, make sure they know how to behave with dogs and don’t leave them unattended.