For all of the beauty of the season, holiday time can be a particularly dangerous time for our beloved pets, even in our own homes !Keep your dogs safe by being aware of the following potential dangers:
Plants: Christmas cactus, hemlock, holly, ivy, mistletoe and poinsettia. The effects of ingestion can range from mild gastro-intestinal upset to extreme toxicity. Safety Tips: Spray with Bitter Apple repellant. Immediately collect and dispose of dead leaves, stems, or berries.
Trees: Live trees including juniper, fir, balsam and cedar can contain sap or be treated with preservatives that can cause gastro-intestinal problems or mouth irritation. The needles from these trees are not digestible and, if eaten, can result in a puncture of the intestines. In addition, trees can be toppled over or used as a place for urination. Safety Tips: Set up your tree in a room that is inaccessible to your dog, or, if this is not possible, place decorative fencing around the tree. Be sure to anchor your tree with sturdy weights and place a plastic tarp on the floor. Hang your decorations on the higher branches and securely attach them for added safety.
Decorations: Tinsel, angel hair, faux icicles, artificial snow, and ornaments - all of these can be potentially fatal to your dog ! Safety Tips: When trimming your tree, be vigilant about cleaning up as you go so your dog does not have the opportunity to ingest any of these items while your attention is elsewhere. Follow the safety tips above for trees for greater security. Do not use edible ornaments or garlands made from food. Rather than using metal hooks to attach ornaments to the tree, use double knotted ribbon instead.
Lights And Electrical Cords: Dogs can get tangled in the strands of lights or electrical cords. Chewing on the cords can cause your dog to get shocked, burned or electrocuted. Safety Tips: When running electrical cords, place them in a PVC sleeve, under rugs, behind or under heavy furniture, or fasten them securely to the floor. String your Christmas lights carefully through the interior of the tree, and run the cord underneath the tree skirt.
Gift Wrapping Items: Everything from bubble wrap to ribbon to packaging peanuts to trim to wrapping foil needs to be promptly and properly disposed of. Safety Tip: If your dog is to be included in the gift giving, wrap his / her present loosely in plain paper and be there to supervise during the unwrapping.....just to be sure !
Fireplaces And Wood Stoves: The dangers here include hot coals and ashes, popping or crackling logs, sparks and color salt additives. In addition to burns, your dog may also suffer bronchial or digestive distress and skin irritation. Safety Tips: Always use a fine mesh or solid fireplace screen while the fireplace is in use. Keep your fireplace clean of ashes and debris and the doors to the fireplace closed when not in use.
Candles And Potpourri: There is nothing quite as lovely as the glow of candles, but it is important to be cautious when using them, especially in households with pets. Potpourri adds a wonderful seasonal element to ones home, but carries a certain amount of risk as well. Safety Tips: Be sure to place lit candles in areas completely inaccessible to your dog, and to blow them out when you are done enjoying them. Keep potpourri well out of the reach of your dog as ingesting it can cause problems ranging from gastro-intestinal upset to toxicity.
Have A Happy And Safe Holiday Season !
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