Keeping your dog safe over the festive season
With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, pet owners need to mindful of the ways they can keep their pets safe, warm and happy during the holidays. Hazardous objects, large numbers of people, other pets, cold weather and noise can all present a problem to your dog if you are unprepared. Here are some things that you should keep in mind.
Christmas
Christmas can be a very hectic time for both pets and their owners and it’s important to have a good understanding of what could go wrong and how to prevent it.
One of the biggest problems for dogs is all the food that is around, which is as hard for dogs to avoid nibbling on as it is their owners.
However, while there is nothing wrong with feeding your dog some types of food, there are some specific items which you should avoid giving them, as they could fall seriously ill, which include:
- Christmas pudding
- Christmas cake
- Mince pies
- Grapes & raisins
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Sugar
- Onions
- Garlic
- Mushrooms
- Peach and nectarine stones
- Cooked bones
- Particularly fatty foods
While many Christmas trees today have a lower toxicity than in the past they still represent a threat to dogs. They are hazardous to chew, pine needles can get stuck in paws and if a tree is not properly weighted down and anchored it could be pulled over and could fall down on your pet, so extra care should be taken.
Christmas is a time of year when there are lots of unfamiliar people in the home that your dog may have never met before and might feel uncomfortable around. You should make sure that there is a place your dog can go to relax and that they are given attention so as to know when they need the toilet or would like walking.
If you are taking your dog with you to the relatives then you should make sure that they are comfortable by bringing along some comfort items such as their favourite bedding, toys and water bowls. It’s very important that they also have a retreat area where they can go if you are unsure of how they will react to the attention they are likely to receive from relatives.
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration and naturally many people bring in the New Year with fireworks and loud celebrations. However, pets are especially vulnerable during this period and as their hearing is four times better than human hearing it can naturally make them very worried, alarmed and cause them to panic.
If possible you should stay home with your pet on New Year’s Eve so you are around for them, or find someone who can look after your pet for the night that is known to your dog and remember to ignore any signs of fear or anxiety and simply act as though everything is perfectly normal. Even eye contact to a scared dog can affirm to them they are right to be scared.
It’s not advisable to have fireworks in your own garden if you own a pet, but if you do to decide to then you should make sure that your dog is kept very clear from any danger, preferably by arranging for them to stay somewhere else.
Your dog is part of the family and they should be allowed to enjoy the festive period too, so be sure to treat them to some new toys or chews and take them for a nice long walk on Boxing Day morning.
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