Our canine family members need some extra considerations during the holidays. Nothing ruins a holiday more than a visit to the vet, a hospital trip because of a bite, or a dog who goes missing.
We all want our furry friends to be a part of the celebrations, so let’s make sure they don’t include an emergency situation. Here’s a list of things to do to ensure a happy and safe holiday season for you and your dog.
Make Sure Decorations are Dog-Friendly
Many holiday plants are toxic if your dog decides to eat them. Cedar, holly, poinsettia, and mistletoe are just a few that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and worse. Visit ASPCA for a full list of foods and holiday plants that can make your dog sick. Even a well-behaved dog can get stressed during this time and want to chew things to calm down, so keep decorations that include these plants out of reach.
Christmas tree water can cause a bellyache because it can have bacteria and fertilizer in it. Dogs will drink water from literally anywhere, including the tree tub.
Wires from decorations can cause electric shock if a pup chews on them, and batteries can cause severe burns. If you’re using lights, lit candles, or battery powered decorations, it’s probably best to keep your pup away from them and out of harm’s way.
Did your pet eat something poisonous? Call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline. The sooner your pet’s condition is diagnosed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is to treat.
People Food and Dogs Don’t Always Mix Well
Photo: Norwegian Elkhound Tuck
Cooked bones can be fatal to dogs. They’re too hard, indigestible, and can splinter, causing injury to a dog’s digestive system. Raw bones are fine, though, so give your dog a raw turkey neck to gnaw on instead.
Sugar and artificial sweeteners ( ex. xylitol) are toxic to dogs, and they can get very sick, and even die from eating it.
Even unsweetened chocolate is poisonous to dogs because it’s got caffeine and theobromine in it, which can speed up heart rate and make a dog feel anxious. Carob is a very dog-friendly substitute for chocolate, and is actually quite healthy for them to eat.
A good rule of thumb if you want to give your dog leftovers, stick to meat and veggies so they won’t get a bellyache. If they do indulge a bit too much, have some raw or cooked pumpkin on hand and give them a couple of spoonfuls. It works wonders on firming up diarrhea and calming the stomach. Just make sure it’s sugar-free and not spiced.
Make Sure to Leave the Lid On the Garbage Can
The garbage can look and smell like a gourmet meal to a dog after a holiday feast, so make sure it’s closed up or out of reach. There are things you probably don’t want your dog getting hold of, like the lids from cans or other sharp objects, and anything else that might be toxic.
Keep Your Dog and Guests Safe from Unwanted Behavior
Check in with your pup regularly to make sure he or she isn’t going into sensory overload. Some dogs might do well at first in a party environment, then have a meltdown if the activity goes on for too long. Most dogs will usually give plenty of warning signs before this happens, so pay attention to what’s going on with him throughout the holiday. The Dog Decoder is a great app to educate yourself and children to recognize these cues. Often when people get bit, it’s not because the dog didn’t warn them; it’s because no one noticed that it was stressed or scared. If you notice this happening, remove your dog from the situation and give them some quiet time to chill out. Calming Remedies, Tinctures or offering enrichment options might help the dog calm down faster.
If you are having guests over, practice obedience for a few days before the big event. When dogs know what to expect, they will usually be calmer in a stressful situation. Practice commands like “sit,” “wait,” or “leave it,” and use yummy, high quality treats. It will also help keep your dog from bolting when you answer the door. Make sure your dog has always access to his safe place.
If your dog seems to be stressed out, you might want to consider giving him a “time-out” and putting him in his crate for a few minutes, or some other out of the way area. The constant activity and noise can make a dog feel unsafe, which can lead to a bite or the dog bolting from the house or yard.
Getting training help during holiday season it might be difficult, a online consultation might be all you need to get unruly dog back on track.
Roman Gottfried is an internationally renowned Holistic Dog Training Professional, Behavior Expert, and Reiki Master. He works with dog parents worldwide to help their dogs reach their full potential, by teaching them the holistic philosophy of dog training. He sees clients online and in-person.