Safety tips for dog owners at Christmas time

Tips for keeping your dog safe this Christmas

With the holidays upon us, there are many things coming into our homes and even going out, as well as different people and even other animals. And that means remembering some safety tips this Christmas to make sure that not only are our dogs comfortable, but also as safe as possible.

While the holidays can be a lot of fun for human and pet alike, that doesn’t mean that there are not some inherent dangers revolving around Christmas. From the Christmas tree and poinsettia to the lights and ornaments, there are a lot of opportunities for our dogs to get sick or hurt.

But with some tips and tricks at your disposal, you can keep your dog safe this holiday season.

Safety tips for our dogs this Christmas season

Keep your dogs away from the Christmas tree water

If you bring a Christmas tree into your house this season, make sure that your dog does not have access to the water used to keep the tree alive. It is best to make sure that the reservoir is not accessible to your pet because the tree can release a sap into the water that is actually toxic.

On top of the sap itself, they also use fertilizer and pesticides to keep the trees healthy and looking good. Another additive that can be use in trees is aspirin and that is another chemical that can be deadly.

Knowing these things, it is best to keep your dogs as far away from the tree water as possible.

Keep your pup away from the Christmas lights

While it might seem like something our dogs would stay away from, that is not always the case. And it is important that our dogs avoid the strands of lights that can be potentially hazardous, as they can cause internal blockages and injury if ingested, while also be an electrocution risk.

Be mindful of the plants you are bringing into the home

Plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe and holly can be poisonous to our pets. And if your dog has a chewing problem, they may start chomping on the plant without you even knowing about it. Even if your pup doesn’t typically chew on plants, there are so many things that can happen without our knowledge.

Knowing that a plant can be hazardous to our pups, it is best to either keep it out of the home entirely or make sure it is in an area where your dog has no access to it at all, even accidentally.

Remember that candy and chocolate is not good for our dogs

The holidays mean candy and chocolate aplenty. In order to protect our pups from getting sick, it is definitely a good idea to keep the sweet treats out of reach. This is especially important if you are known for putting gifts under the Christmas tree. Keep those chocolates and candies off the floor and out of reach.

For more tips, tricks, and holiday-related content, check out the rest of our coverage on Dog O’Day.