Holiday items that are potentially hazardous for your dog

The holidays are upon us. And with them come some holiday items that can actually be hazardous for your pup, such as Christmas trees and mistletoe.

When it comes to the holiday season, there are plenty of things we bring into our homes in order to decorate and make the season bright. But did you know that some of the things we bring home can actually be hazardous to your dog’s health?

While some of these things may make a lot of sense, others you may not have thought of before. Luckily, we have compiled a list of some of the more dangerous holiday items. And while you don’t have to kick these things to the curb entirely, we hope you’ll pay attention to keeping your dog away from these hazards.

Christmas Trees

According to Fox News, both the water that the tree sits in and the pine needles are what make Christmas trees a hazard for our pups. In particular, the needles of the tree can cause drooling and vomiting because of the oils the tree produces. Ultimately, it’s not just the oils that are problematic, because the needles can also puncture the lining of the intestine, as well as cause blockages

And we haven’t even touched on the tree water itself. In fact, it’s said that the water the tree sits it can be considered poisonous. This is because of the things used in order to keep cut trees fresh. Among the things that can leach into the water are pesticides, aspirin, fertilizers, and other preservatives.

If you are like us, you may not have a live tree in your home, and while this may be safer in many cases, there are still things to watch out for, especially as our fake trees get older. The problem with fake trees is that things can become brittle and break off, and if your dog ends up ingesting something off the tree, they can have blockages or do damage to their mouths.

Holly and Mistletoe

While both holly and mistletoe are quite popular around the holidays, they are actually quite bad for our pups. According to PetMD, these are actually quite toxic for our pets, because they can lead to breathing problems, problems with the intestines, unusual behavior often associated with hallucinations, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and more.

Whether these plants with their berries are fresh or dried, they are clearly not safe for our dogs, and we recommend keeping them completely out of reach.

Poinsettia

While poinsettias are actually not nearly as dangerous as some people may believe (they are more dangerous for cats than dogs), they can still be problematic. The problem with poinsettias is that the leaves contain a milky sap that can be irritating to tissues in both the throat and mouth. And if the leaves are eaten entirely, they can cause vomiting and upset stomachs.

Ultimately, while these plants may not be the best thing ever for our pups, they are not nearly as hazardous as holly and mistletoe. So, while we definitely don’t recommend leaving them in reach of dogs that like to get their chew on, at least you know if they do get into trouble it won’t be deadly.

Tinsel

Tinsel may be beautiful, but it’s not exactly pet friendly. And while we love glitz and glam at the holiday season, when it comes to our dogs it’s not a good thing. If your dog eats tinsel, it can lead to blockage in the intestines, which can lead to things like weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, and even a decrease in appetite. And unfortunately, it can require surgical options to remove the tinsel.

Holiday Lights

Whether they are on your tree or outside, holiday lights have their own hidden or not so hidden dangers. Not only can they end up heating up hot enough to burn our pups, but if your dog chews wires (like our own has been known to do), they can be at risk for either burns in the mouth or even getting electrocuted.

When it comes to the holiday season, there are actually quite a few dangers we should be aware of as pet owners. And when our dogs are mischievous, it is even more important to pay attention to the things we bring into our home.