Are there any dangers for your dog at Christmas?

What we like and state as a fact during Christmas vacations can be a source of discomfort to our puppies.

Let’s discover together the dangers and precautions to follow in this splendid time of the year, remembering that sharing it with our beloved furry friend makes it even more magical.

1. Decorations

Who doesn’t like to decorate the house, the terrace or the garden with Christmas lights? In addition to the intermittent lights that could bother our dogs, pay great attention to the cables to avoid bites and a potentially fatal shock.

Advice: Consider a slow gleam and a weak lighting and protect the cables with a bite proof cover.

2. The tree, the king of Christmas decorations, as any bush or plant, stimulates the male dog to mark his territory. To get rid of this inconvenience, you can find non-toxic repellent sprays in the market to avoid pee in the tree.

Besides, the synthetic branches and needles can irritate the throat if ingested to the point of suffocation or what is worse, go down to the stomach causing vomiting and obstructions, as well as [ …. Pondré lo que falta aquí cuando revise tu hermano el español… ]

If you use a real tree, its resin or the stagnation of water in the tree pot represent the main problems so, we suggest you clean the resin that falls and the needles every day and prevent the dog from drinking from the pot, leaving his water dish available and always filled with water.

3. Balls are extremely attractive to dogs: if you are especially fond of a family decoration or it is especially fragile, place it at the top of the tree so your pup cannot reach it. In the same way, the Nativity scene figures are “good” for chewing, especially for puppies in their teething phase.

4. Food

During the holidays we allow ourselves to cheat on the diet but as we have said in other occasions, we must not feed our dogs some particular foods, not even a taste and do not leave chocolates, nougats, raisins, pandoro and panettone (yeast is bad for dogs).

In some countries there is a very common custom of decorating the house with edible ornaments like candy canes, popcorn or cranberry festoons, remember that the pup can feel attracted to the smell and risk their health.

5. Spray snow

Gives a good effect for humans, very harmful for a pup’s health if ingested. If you have decorated your windows with patterns covered with snow, make sure to clean all of the residue that falls off during the holidays.

6. Star of Christmas (Poinsettia)

The flower symbol of Christmas, it can be lethal if the dog ingests the red leaves because they are toxic. If you really like these flowers or someone gives one to you as a present, put it over the table, a rack or shelf where your dog can’t reach it. 

7. Fireworks

Fountains, sparks, shots or firecrackers can seriously scare and traumatize our furry friends. Keep the dog inside during celebrations and try to reduce the noise maybe with some music. Obviously it is prohibited to nag him if he is afraid or tie him to a chain. If, on the contrary, the dog is intrepid, be careful he doesn’t take the fountain or firecracker to its mouth when you throw it as if it was the throw-n’-catch game.

8. Packages and gifts

Last but not least, gifts under the tree are available to the dog that sometimes stays alone in the house, even for a short period of time, and you may find them destroyed when returning. Until Christmas morning, leave them in a place where your best friend cannot reach them and distinguish the recipients with printed Christmas labels decorated with a watercolor image and the sweetest face there is. Choose your favorite among the available models.