Keeping your dog safe at Christmas

Christmas is a great time to spend with family, friends and our best mates. But some of the things we enjoy most at Christmas can be dangerous for our dogs.

Some Christmas foods are nice for humans but deadly for dogs

For most humans it wouldn’t seem like Christmas without some chocolate under the Christmas Tree.  But chocolate is toxic for dogs so make sure if you’ve got chocolate in your gifts, make sure they’re safely out of reach of dogs who might want to investigate the presents under the tree.

Grapes, currants, sultanas and raisins are also poisonous to dogs, so that means that mince tarts and Christmas pudding should be kept out of your dog’s reach.

Other Christmas foods like ham can also make your dog unwell if they’re fed too much of it. So if it’s a few days after Christmas and you’re sick of eating ham, don’t give it to your dog – they might enjoy it, but the high fat content can make them very unwell.

Alcohol is also not good for animals.  We are all guilty of leaving glasses tucked under chairs, so encourage family and guests to put drinks out of reach, and make sure to clean up after parties.

Visitors

One of the best things about the Christmas break is catching up with friends and relatives. But all the comings and goings of family and guests can cause some dangers for your dog.

If you have visitors who aren’t dog people, let them know that your dog may snuffle in their bag or room, and ask them to make sure any medications they have are safely tucked away where nosey dogs wont find them.

If your dog isn’t a fan of strangers, loud music or groups of people, give them plenty of space and support so they can cope with the stress.  Create a safe space for your dog and make sure visiting children and adults know not to disturb the dog when they are in that place. If your dog is a real stress head, an Adaptil collar or infuser may help, but remember that nothing helps as much as giving a dog their own safe, quiet space with activities like lickimats or chew toys to keep them busy.

Your regular vet will often have reduced opening hours over Christmas and New Year. Make sure you have contact details for emergency vet services on hand just in case.

Have a wonderful Christmas and don’t forget to make the most of the time with your dog.

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