Home Safety Tips for Christmas

Every year during the holidays, veterinarians see a host of pet problems, injuries and illnesses that could be avoided in many cases by a little extra care around the home. Here’s a look at how you can make Christmas safer for your dog.

Trim the Christmas Tree with Care

Christmas trees present a wealth of possible dangers to dogs. Follow these tips so everyone can enjoy your tree without incident:

• Put up the tree in an area of the house where the dog doesn’t roam.
• Put only soft, non-breakable ornaments on the bottom, in case they get knocked off.
• Watch out for electrical cords, and consider using bitter apple deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing on them.
• Start training long before Christmas to teach your dog not to jump on things and to drop objects on command.
• Don’t use edible trimming on your tree.

Take care not to put any food gifts under the tree, and if in doubt, place presents where your dog can’t reach them. If your dog can’t be trusted around the tree when you’re not home, think about sending him or her to dog daycare. Your pup will come home happy and tired, and your tree will remain intact.

Watch out for Treats

Have plenty of healthy dog treats on hand, so you won’t be tempted to reward your dog with overly rich or even dangerous people food. Teach kids that chocolate is poisonous for all dogs, as are macadamia nuts. Grapes and raisins are no-nos too.

Avoid Poisonous Plants

Unfortunately, the holidays are a time when several plants that are poisonous to dogs are often placed right where they can chew on them. While poinsettias are only mildly dangerous, mistletoe and holly are seriously toxic and can be lethal. If you know your dog has eaten a poisonous plant, it’s imperative to get to the emergency vet immediately. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and difficulty breathing.

Help Your Dog Relax

Entertaining around the holidays can be fun for you but stressful for your pooch, with the doorbell constantly ringing, strangers milling about and tempting foods everywhere. Do your dog a favor, and consider boarding your pet at Citizen Canine if you are throwing a big Christmas party. Boarding is also a great option if you know you’ll be out late at a party somewhere else.

Is your dog being left alone too long during pre-Christmas shopping? Are you seeing regression in manners or house training? This is another good reason to make use of Citizen Canine’s dog daycare program. You can help your pet relax and get a little refresher on training while playing with mates and working off some winter energy.

The holidays can be stressful and downright dangerous for dogs. But with the right resources and advanced planning, you can all appreciate the yuletide season!