Why do dogs try to drink Christmas tree water?

With the holiday season in full effect, a lot of people are bringing home Christmas trees. And if you are a pet parent, you might notice your dog heading for the tree stand.

For some reason, it seems like as soon as that Christmas tree goes up, some dogs forget all about their water bowl and decide the water that the tree is standing in is the way to go. And we really wanted to know why.

What is it about the Christmas tree water that has our dog forgetting all about their clean, fresh water bowl? Is there something about that forbidden water that has our dog losing all sense?

Why do dogs drink the water that the Christmas tree is standing in?

In order to find out why dogs are into drinking Christmas tree water, we asked some animal experts. Dr. Jessica Apted, who is with Sploot Veterinary Care, shared some insight into why our dogs opt for the water that we put the tree in.

According to Dr. Apted, "dogs may be attracted to the water in your Christmas tree stand because it can have an appealing scent, especially if it's flavored with preservatives or chemicals. While it might not always harm your dog, it can lead to stomach upset or even toxicity from the chemicals used in the water. Prevent access to the tree water to avoid potential issues. In addition, the possible ingestion of pine needles in the water can cause them harm."

Another expert who shared some thoughts on this phenomenon was Lorraine Rhoads, who is the Director of Health and Safety at Dogtopia. And her answer is exactly what we expected, "to a dog, Christmas tree water is like the mysterious punch at a party—what’s in there? Unfortunately, it could contain tree sap, bacteria, pesticides, or even preservatives that aren’t safe for pups. Keep it covered, and remind them the tree is not for pups."

Honestly, we aren't surprised when our staff pup does something they maybe shouldn't do, but in this case we really hope they skip the tree water this holiday season.