Holiday Hazards For Pups

feature 4, holiday hazards, seasonal - By Staff Writer on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - 12:17

As we are in the midst of the holidays, we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone of some hazards for your pup that might be lurking around your house at this time of the year.

In the Kitchen   

• Turkey bones, skewers and toothpicks can lodge inside or perforate your dog’s intestines.  
• Tin foil, plastic wrap, roasting bags and meat string can cause serious digestive problems.     
• Turkey skin, sweets and greasy or spicy food can lead to gastric distress and pancreatitis.
• Chocolate is poisonous, keep your puppy away from it.
• Watch what your guests give your dog at the dinner table.  Just because you are not feeding them does not mean they aren’t getting it!

Holiday Decorations

• Menorahs and candles can be knocked over, keep an eye on swinging tails.
• Christmas trees and their decorations can be very attractive to a dog.  But the tree can topple and ornaments, tinsel, artificial snow, etc are not toys and can cause serious intestinal problems for your dog.  In addition, if your dog eats the pine needles or drinks the water it can be very toxic, so just keep the dog away from the tree.
• Decorative lights and electric cords can also cause electrocution, choking or intestinal issues not to mention a fire if you dog eats them.   
• Holly leaves and berries, poinsettias and mistletoe are poisonous to dogs if ingested.

Parties

• Parties can be noisy and frighten dogs, make sure your pup has a quiet room to stay in away from the noise.
• With people coming in and out all night dogs can slip out the front door, watch carefully to make sure your dog is secure in a safe place.
• Alcohol makes dogs aggressive, do not give your dog alcohol or let your guests give your dog alcohol.

Costumes

• If you decide to dress your dog as Santa or one of his helpers keep a close eye on her.  Costumes can get caught, or chewed on and cause choking hazards.
• If you decide to dress as Santa you should put your dog in a safe place out of the way.  Many dogs do not like costumes and will become frightened or aggressive towards people dressed up.