Holiday Dog Safety Hazards

Whether you are a dog owner or not, the holiday season is a fun time for all. Naturally, parties and dinners are included. However, dogs are not always welcome at parties. Safety is a big concern; you don't want to hurt your dog or any guests. Here are some holiday dog safety hazards to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to bring your dog to holiday parties.

Holiday Tree Hazards

With curious pups, it's better to keep ornaments out of reach. Consider hanging your Christmas decorations high where they can't be touched by your pups and especially those that may prove toxic for them. To be extra safe, you could avoid putting any kind of ornaments at all on main pathways where your dog goes about their day.

Candles and Lights

Holiday lights, such as icicle and snowman versions, might be the most popular choice for holiday lighting displays. However, these twinkling, shiny, and dangling decorations may pose a risk to curious canines.

If you have an electrical outlet in the yard, and a large dog chews through the extension cord to get to it because they like to chew on things. Make sure that your pet's chewing habits don’t kill them over Christmas.

Pets love candles so much that it can become an issue for you too. It is not just that they will burn themselves but these candles can also be a fire hazard if the pet knocks over a candle.

Flowers And Plants

Holidays may be a good time to buy plants, but some are much more dangerous than others. Purchasing live plants at the holidays is common but we have to talk about an important safety warning. Some holiday plants can be toxic if ingested by pets and while they might not be dangerous when touched or handled by people, they will kill or seriously damage your pet.

If they don’t kill it’s for sure that these plants can cause digestive upsets. Some plants that can be harmful are

• Azaleas
• Amaryllis
• Chrysanthemums
• Holly
• Evergreens
• Juniper
• Mistletoe
• Ivy
• Lily

Food Hazards

Festive times often translate to celebrations based around food, treats, and lots of them. However, some of the most popular holiday goodies might have you holding back when you realize that some of the favorites are extremely toxic or fatal for dogs.

According to some surveys, different types of chocolate contain various levels of caffeine, fat, and a substance called methylxanthine. So chocolate is extremely toxic for your pups. Similarly table scraps, fat, and trimmings are also very toxic for your pups.

Toys

Keep small toys and accessories picked up, away from your pet's mouth. If a dog chews on hard plastic toys, it can result in broken teeth. Batteries and board game pieces need to be stored in places where canines cannot find them because they could lead to some severe health problems. Small objects like thimbles, chandelier crystals, beads, and hairpins can cause intestinal blockages in your dog, so keep these things out of reach.

Instead, keep your busy pup busy in something like a snuffle mat. It will not only keep them busy but also protect them from different hazards. You can hide various treats inside the mat and let your dog sniff these treats.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article about holiday dog safety hazards. With this knowledge, we know that you can make the most of your holiday festivities and spend quality time with your best friend. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and celebrate!